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Permethrin

General Information

• Beyond Pesticides Permethrin ChemWatch Factsheet see also Synthetic Pyrethroids Factsheet
• Permethrin product names
• Chemical Class: Synthetic pyrethroid insecticide
• Uses: food/feed crops, livestock and livestock housing, modes of transportation, structures, buildings (including food handling establishments), Public Health Mosquito abatement programs, residential use sites including use in outdoor and indoor spaces, pets, and clothing (impregnated and ready to use formulations)
• Alternatives: Agriculture, Residential, Mosquitoes
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Possible (10)
• Endocrine Disruption: Suspected (5)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (13)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (11)
• Kidney/ Liver Damage:Yes (11)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (4)
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Yes (7)
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/ Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (8)

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (4/2006)
  • Beyond Pesticides' RED comments.
• Supporting information:
  • NCAP Permethrin Factsheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • Extoxnet Permethrin Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticides Database:Permethrin (Pesticide Action Network)
  • Scorecard Permethrin Factsheet (The Pollution Information Site)
  • CHEJ Permethrin Factsheet (Children's Health Environmental Coalition)
• Key Studies:
  • Subchronic dermal application of N,N-diethyl m-toluamide (DEET) and permethrin to adult rats, alone or in combination, causes diffuse neuronal cell death and cytoskeletal abnormalities in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, and Purkinje neuron loss in the cerebellum. Abdel-Rahman, A. et. al. 2001 Exp Neurol. 172(1):153-71