Mammal Toxicology of Synthetic Pyrethroids

Abstract

Pyrethroids show moderate acute oral toxicity in rodents, and their typical toxicological signs are tremors (T syndrome) for Type I (generally non-cyano pyrethroids) and choreoathetosis with salivation (CS syndrome) for Type II (generally α-cyano pyrethroids). However, some pyrethroids show mixed clinical signs. Mainly Type II pyrethroids cause paresthesia, which is characterized by transient burning/tingling/itching sensation of the exposed skin. Also, it has been suggested that some pyrethroids cause developmental neurotoxicity, but available evidence has been judged to be insufficient. While some pyrethroids have been shown to cause tumors in rodent models, the tumor induction does not appear to reflect a common carcinogenic endpoint for this particular subset of compounds. Analysis of carcinogenic mode of action in some cases provides evidence not relevant in humans. Pyrethroids produce no common teratogenic effects in a particular species based on similarity in structure or mode of insecticidal action.