Pyrethroids: How They Affect Human and Animal Health?

Abstract

Pyrethroids are pesticides commonly used in crop protection; in the forestry, wood, and textile industries; as well as in medicine and veterinary medicine to treat parasitic crustacean infestations. They have been found to be relatively safe for humans and animals. Pyrethroids are recommended for personal protection against malaria and virus Zika by the World Health Organization. Pyrethroids act on voltage-gated sodium channels, which cause an influx of sodium ions into the nerve cells and permanent depolarization. They also influence activities of enzymes, especially in nerve and liver cells. Contact of pyrethroids with the skin, digestive tract, and respiratory tract results in their penetration into the body. Due to the importance of the subject, a summary of the current state of knowledge on the toxic effects of pyrethroids was presented in the comprehensive review by Chrustek et al, published in journal Medicina. Particular attention was paid to nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, cardiotoxic, immunotoxic, neurotoxic, and behavioral effects of pyrethroids on human and animal bodies. It could be added that pyrethroids generate oxidative stress, which modifies DNA, RNA, protein, lipid and carbohydrate molecules. However, public awareness of the possible negative effects of the use of insecticides is still low. Further research should be carried out to clarify the molecular basis of the pathomechanism of pyrethroid detrimental action. Proper dissemination of the results seems to be of first importance for public health.

Exposure to Sub-Lethal Doses of Permethrin Is Associated with Neurotoxicity: Changes in Bioenergetics, Redox Markers, Neuroinflammation and Morphology

“…The neurotoxicity of PERM at high doses has been widely studied [16][17][18][20][21][22][23][24][25]. It was reported to modify sodium channels in insects and mammals, leading to prolonged depolarization and repetitive discharges in presynaptic nerve fibers after a single stimulus [14,15].…”

“…It is also used directly in humans, as a treatment to eradicate dermal parasites such as scabies and pediculosis (lice) [16][17][18][19][20]. PERM has been shown to affect the reproductive, skeletal, cardiovascular, immune and neuronal systems by generating cardiotoxicity, endocrine dysfunction, hepatotoxicity and cytotoxicity [16,[21][22][23][24][25].…”

Fitossanitários e doenças hepáticas: Um desafio à saúde pública no Brasil

“…Atualmente, esses fitossanitários são sintetizados quimicamente e além de reduzirem a atividade da acetilcolinesterase eles atuam em canais de Na + dependente de voltagem, causando despolarização das células nervosas, excitação neuronal e morte do organismo alvo. Além disso, o agroquímico pode reduzir a ação da enzima citocromo P450 no fígado e alterar o sistema de detoxificação do organismo (Hołyńska-Iwan & Szewczyk-Golec, 2020). Essa classe de compostos é utilizada com maior incidência no controle de insetos e pragas domésticas, onde estudos apontam um menor impacto ambiental pela sua utilização, visto que são usualmente decompostos pela luz do sol.…”

Development of effervescence‐assisted switchable polarity solvent homogeneous liquid‐phase microextraction for the determination of permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples prior to gas chromatography–flame ionization detection

“…Despite their numerous competencies, they are one of the most hazardous environmental pollutants due to their toxicity and capability of bioaccumulation (Chrustek et al, 2018). Their presence in water and aquifers is an important concern not only for the quality of drinking water and people’s health but also for wildlife habitats (Hołyńska‐Iwan & Szewczyk‐Golec, 2020). Because of their possible dangers to the health and environment, the detection and quantification of trace levels of these agents in environmental matrices, water, and food have been developed based on analytical methods (Khan et al, 2007).…”