In VitroInvestigation on the Toxic Potentials of Commonly Used Synthetic Pyrethroids, Especially Esbiothrin

Abstract

Abstract Pyrethroids, including allethrin, bioallethrin, deltamethrin, and esbiothrin, are widely used to control a broad range of pests in agriculture, public health, and households as alternative to organophosphorus and organochlorine insecticides. Even if the pyrethroids are known to lead to asthma; allergic dermatitis; respiratory diseases; and immunosuppressive, reproductive, and carcionogenic effects with long-term exposure, data on their cancer risk are still conflicting. Moreover, exposure to pesticides including synthetic pyrethroids is highly possible both indirectly and directly through environmental contamination. Therefore, in the present study, it was aimed to assess in vitro toxic potentials of four synthetic pyrethroids. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of allethrin, bioallethrin, deltamethrin, and esbiothrin were 24.61, 18.26, 555.78, and 54.32 μM on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). By the Ames assay, they possessed weakly mutagenic potential with base-...