Increasing use of pyrethroids in Canadian households: should we be concerned?

ERNA C. VAN BALEN; WOLANSKY, MARCELO JAVIER; KOSATSKY, TOM

CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)

Año: 2012

0008-4263

Pyrethroids are a class of plant-derived insecticides and their man-made analogues increasingly applied in Canada as first-choice for pest control in many agricultural and residential settings. Their popularity is partly due to their alleged safety compared to the older organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides. Application of pyrethroids is expanding because of recent increases in the level of pest infestations, such as by bed bugs, and due to decreased susceptibility of target species to many pest control products. Pyrethroid residues have been documented in homes, child care centers and food.  While pyrethroids are considered of low health risk for humans, their increased use is of concern. Our current understanding of the adverse effects of pyrethroids derives mainly from studies of short-term effects in laboratory animals, case reports of self and accidental poisonings, and high-dose occupational exposures, for which levels and formulations of pyrethroid products differ from long-term exposure in the general population. The available data suggest that the reproductive and nervous systems, endocrine signalling pathways and early childhood development may be targets for adverse effects given repeated exposure to pyrethroid formulations. Given uncertainty about the existence of long-term health effects of exposure to pyrethroids among multiple stressors, particularly under realistic, scenarios, we should be cautious when promoting pyrethroid products as safe methods for pest control.