Pyrethroid Pesticide Application and Toxicity: A Review

Pyrethroids is one of the chemical classification of pesticides with synthetic nature. Pyrethroids are also widely used as home and garden insecticides along with uses on pets and livestock, mosquito control, treatment of transport vehicles, and for treatment of ectoparasitic disease. Their desirable features provide a quick knockdown of insects at low rates, relatively low mammalian toxicity, and improved stability in outdoor environments, which has increased their marketability. Synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) are synthetic analogs and derivatives of the original pyrethrins and include a variety group of about 1,000 insecticides. Though they are analogs of pyrethrins, their production has involved extensive chemical modifications which make them highly toxic and less degradable in the environment Many pyrethroids have been linked to the disruption of the endocrine system, reproduction and sexual development, interference with the immune system and the induction of breast cancer. The widespread use of pyrethroids is a major problem as they pollute the agricultural lands and water resources and affect non-target organisms and humans. Studies showed a lot of environmental and health problems due to continuous and excessive use of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. Paper focuses on some case studies to treat Pyrethroid wastewater.