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Tetramethrin

General Information

• Beyond Pesticides Synthetic Pyrethroids ChemWatch Factsheet
• Tetramethrin product names
• Chemical Class: Synthetic pyrethroid insecticide
• Uses: targets insects such as wasps, hornets, roaches, ants, fleas, and mosquitoes in residential and industrial settings and rights-of-way
• Alternatives: Rights-of-way, Mosquitoes
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: III - IV (slightly toxic to practically non-toxic)
• Cancer: Possible (10)
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (11)
• Kidney/ Liver Damage:Not documented
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Not documented

Environmental Effects

• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Detected in Streams: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/ Aquatic Organisms: Yes (20)
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented
• Toxic to Mammals: Not documented
• Long-Range Transport: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (6/2008)
• Supporting information:
  • Asthma, Children and Pesticides (Beyond Pesticides)
  • PAN Pesticides Database:Tetramethrin (Pesticide Action Network)
  • Scorecard Tetramethrin Factsheet (The Pollution Information Site)
• Key Studies:
  • Comparison of pesticide levels in carpet dust and self-reported pest treatment practices in four US sites. Colt, J. et. al. 2004. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 14:74–83