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Synthetic Pyrethroids
(General Chemical Class)
General Information
- Fact Sheet: Synthetic Pyrethroids Factsheet (updated).pdf
- Product Names:
- Chemical Class: Synthetic Pyrethroids
- Uses: Insecticide
- Alternatives: Least-Toxic Insecticide
- Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic
Health and Environmental Effects
- Cancer: Probable (2, 43, 236, 237)
- Endocrine Disruption: Possible (2)
- Reproductive Effects: Probable (11)
- Neurotoxicity: Yes (4, 11)
- Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (4, 11)
- Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (4)
- Birth/Developmental: Yes (11)
- Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
- Potential Leacher: Not documented
- Toxic to Birds: Possible (238)
- Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (4)
- Toxic to Bees: Yes (4)
Additional Information
- Regulatory Status:
- Studies:
- Acute Illnesses Associated With Pesticide Exposure at Schools, Alarcon, W. et. al. 2005. Journal of the American Medical Association. 294 (4):455-465
- A Longitudinal Approach to Assessing Urban and Suburban Children's Exposure to Pyrethroid Pesticides. Lu C, Barr DB, Pearson M, Bartell S, Bravo R.. 2006. Environ Health Perspect. 114(9):1419-23.
- Oxidative stress of glyphosate, AMPA and metabolites of pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos pesticides among primary school children in Cyprus. Makris, K.C., Efthymiou, N., Konstantinou, C., Anastasi, E., Schoeters, G., Kolossa-Gehring, M. and Katsonouri, A., Environmental Research, 212, p.113316.
- Effects of prenatal and infant daily exposure to pyrethroid pesticides on the language development of 2-year-old toddlers: A prospective cohort study in rural Yunnan, China. Chen, S., Xiao, X., Qi, Z., Chen, L., Chen, Y., Xu, L., Zhang, L., Song, X. and Li, Y. NeuroToxicology.
- Gut microbiota dysbiosis involves in host non-alcoholic fatty liver disease upon pyrethroid pesticide exposure. Li, M., Liu, T., Yang, T., Zhu, J., Zhou, Y., Wang, M. and Wang, Q., 2022.Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 11, p.100185.
- Exploratory analysis of the association between pyrethroid exposure and rheumatoid arthritis among US adults: 2007-2014 data analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Guo, X., Li, N., Wang, H., Su, W., Song, Q., Liang, Q., Sun, C., Liang, M., Ding, X., Lowe, S. and Sun, Y., 2022. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, pp.1-11.
- Developmental pyrethroid exposure causes a neurodevelopmental disorder phenotype in mice. . Curtis, M.A., Dhamsania, R.K., Branco, R.C., Guo, J.D., Creeden, J., Neifer, K.L., Black, C.A., Winokur, E.J., Andari, E., Dias, B.G. and Liu, R.C., 2023.PNAS nexus, 2(4), p.pgad085.
- Effects of pyrethroids on the cerebellum and related mechanisms: a narrative review. Hao, F., Bu, Y., Huang, S., Li, W., Feng, H. and Wang, Y., 2023. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, pp.1-15.
- Association between pyrethroid exposure and osteoarthritis: a national population-based cross-sectional study in the US.. Liang, Z., Sun, X., Lan, J., Guo, R., Tian, Y., Liu, Y. and Liu, S., 2023. BMC Public Health, 23(1), p.1521.
- Association of Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate, Pyrethroid, and Neonicotinoid Insecticides with Child Neurodevelopment at 2 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study.. Wang, A., Wan, Y., Mahai, G., Qian, X., Li, Y., Xu, S. and Xia, W., 2023. Environmental Health Perspectives, 131(10), p.107011.
- Risk assessment of a Brazilian urban population due to the exposure to pyrethroid insecticides during the COVID-19 pandemic using wastewater-based epidemiology.. Lizot LLF, Bastiani MF, Hahn RZ, Meireles YF, Freitas M, Bondan AP, do Nascimento CA, Quevedo DM, Linden R. 2023. Chemosphere.
- Pre-Conception And First Trimester Exposure To Pesticides And Associations With Stillbirth. Furlong, M. et al. (2024) Pre-conception and first trimester exposure to pesticides and associations with stillbirth, American Journal of Epidemiology. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/aje/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/aje/kwae198/7714541.
- Gestational Exposure to Cyfluthrin through Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress—Mediated PERK Signaling Pathway Impairs Placental Development. Ni, W. et al. (2022) Gestational exposure to cyfluthrin through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated perk signaling pathway impairs placental development, Toxics. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/12/733.
- A Comprehensive Review on Pesticide Residues in Human Urine. Hakme, E., Poulsen, M. and Lassen, A. (2024) A Comprehensive Review on Pesticide Residues in Human Urine, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02705.
- Thyroid under Attack: The Adverse Impact of Plasticizers, Pesticides, and PFASs on Thyroid Function. Rodrigues, V.G. et al. (2024) Thyroid under Attack: The Adverse Impact of Plasticizers, Pesticides, and PFASs on Thyroid Function, Endocrines. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/5/3/32.
- Respiratory and allergic outcomes among 5-year-old children exposed to pesticides. Islam, J.Y. et al. (2023) Respiratory and allergic outcomes among 5-year-old children exposed to pesticides, Thorax. Available at: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/1/41.abstract.
- Maternal exposure to pyrethroid insecticides during pregnancy and respiratory allergy symptoms among children participating in the Venda Health Examination of Mothers, Babies and their Environment (VHEMBE). Elsiwi, B. et al. (2024) Maternal exposure to pyrethroid insecticides during pregnancy and respiratory allergy symptoms among children participating in the Venda Health Examination of Mothers, Babies and their Environment (VHEMBE), Environmental Research. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935123024088.
- An update of the impact of pesticide exposure on memory and learning. Honatel, K.F. et al. (2024) An update of the impact of pesticide exposure on memory and learning, Discover Toxicology. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44339-024-00011-9.
- Air contamination by legacy and current-use pesticides in Brazilian mountains: An overview of national regulations by monitoring pollutant presence in pristine areas. de Souza Guida, Y. et al. (2018) Air contamination by legacy and current-use pesticides in Brazilian mountains: An overview of national regulations by monitoring pollutant presence in pristine areas, Environmental Pollution. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749118314441.
- Immune response of Brazilian farmers exposed to multiple pesticides . Jacobsen-Pereira, C.H. et al. (2020) ‘Immune response of Brazilian farmers exposed to multiple pesticides’, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 202, p. 110912. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110912.
- Mechanisms of pyrethroid neurotoxicity: implications for cumulative risk assessment. David M Soderlund, John M Clark, Larry P Sheets, Linda S Mullin, Vincent J Piccirillo, Dana Sargent, James T Stevens, Myra L Weiner, Mechanisms of pyrethroid neurotoxicity: implications for cumulative risk assessment, Toxicology, Volume 171, Issue 1, 2002, Pages 3-59, ISSN 0300-483X, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-483X(01)00569-8.
- The relation between urinary metabolite of pyrethroid insecticides and semen quality in humans. Xia, Y., Han, Y., Wu, B., Wang, S., Gu, A., Lu, N., Bo, J., Song, L., Jin, N., & Wang, X. (2008). The relation between urinary metabolite of pyrethroid insecticides and semen quality in humans. Fertility and sterility, 89(6), 1743–1750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.05.049
- Behavioral and endocrine changes induced by perinatal fenvalerate exposure in female rats. Moniz, A. C., Cruz-Casallas, P. E., Salzgeber, S. A., Varoli, F. M., Spinosa, H. S., & Bernardi, M. M. (2005). Behavioral and endocrine changes induced by perinatal fenvalerate exposure in female rats. Neurotoxicology and teratology, 27(4), 609–614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2005.05.005
- Exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and ovarian reserve. Jurewicz, J., Radwan, P., Wielgomas, B., Radwan, M., Karwacka, A., Kałużny, P., Piskunowicz, M., Dziewirska, E., & Hanke, W. (2020). Exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and ovarian reserve. Environment international, 144, 106028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106028
- In utero and lactational exposure to fenvalerate disrupts reproductive function in female rats. Guerra, M. T., de Toledo, F. C., & Kempinas, W.deG. (2011). In utero and lactational exposure to fenvalerate disrupts reproductive function in female rats. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.), 32(3), 298–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2011.08.002
- Occurrence of pyrethroids in the atmosphere of urban areas of Southeastern Brazil: Inhalation exposure and health risk assessment. Guida, Y., Pozo, K., Carvalho, G. O., Capella, R., Targino, A. C., Torres, J. P. M., & Meire, R. O. (2021). Occurrence of pyrethroids in the atmosphere of urban areas of Southeastern Brazil: Inhalation exposure and health risk assessment. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 290, 118020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118020
- Characterizing pyrethroid and fipronil concentrations in biosolids. Wheeler, J., Black, G. P., Hladik, M. L., Sanders, C. J., Teerlink, J., Wong, L., Zhang, X., Budd, R., & Young, T. M. (2025). Characterizing pyrethroid and fipronil concentrations in biosolids. The Science of the total environment, 969, 178954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178954
- The dead can talk: Investigating trace element and organic pollutant exposure in mammalian roadkill under contrasting habitats. Molbert, N., Alliot, F., Goutte, A., & Hansson, M. C. (2025). The dead can talk: Investigating trace element and organic pollutant exposure in mammalian roadkill under contrasting habitats. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 367, 125648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125648
- The association between prenatal pyrethroids exposure and children's health - current research. Jankowska, A., Ścieszko, M., Polańska, A., Jerzyńska, A., Dominowska, J., & Brzozowska, A. (2024). The association between prenatal pyrethroids exposure and children's health - current research. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health, 37(4), 381–402. https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02445
- Exposure to multiple pyrethroid insecticides affects ovarian follicular development via modifying microRNA expression. Song, J., Ma, X., Li, F., & Liu, J. (2022). Exposure to multiple pyrethroid insecticides affects ovarian follicular development via modifying microRNA expression. The Science of the total environment, 828, 154384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154384
- Pyrethroids cypermethrin, deltamethrin and fenvalerate have different effects on in vitro maturation of pig oocytes at different stages of growth. Petr, Jaroslav & Chmelíková, Eva & Žalmanová, Tereza & Tumova, Lenka & Kheilova, Katerina & Kučerová-Chrpová, V & Jílek, F. (2012). Pyrethroids cypermethrin, deltamethrin and fenvalerate have different effects on in vitro maturation of pig oocytes at different stages of growth. Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience. 7. 1-9. 10.1017/S1751731112001140.
- Enantioselective endocrine-disrupting effects of bifenthrin on hormone synthesis in rat ovarian cells. Liu, J., Yang, Y., Zhuang, S., Yang, Y., Li, F., & Liu, W. (2011). Enantioselective endocrine-disrupting effects of bifenthrin on hormone synthesis in rat ovarian cells. Toxicology, 290(1), 42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2011.08.016
- Disrupting effects of bifenthrin on ovulatory gene expression and prostaglandin synthesis in rat ovarian granulosa cells. Liu, J., Yang, Y., Yang, Y., Zhang, Y., & Liu, W. (2011). Disrupting effects of bifenthrin on ovulatory gene expression and prostaglandin synthesis in rat ovarian granulosa cells. Toxicology, 282(1-2), 47–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2011.01.007