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Synthetic Pyrethroids: Toxicity and Biodegradation

A.J. Thatheyus*, A.Deborah Gnana Selvam

Postgraduate and Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai

Abstract: Synthetic pyrethroids are pesticides derived from naturally occurring pyrethrins, taken from pyrethrum of dried Chrysanthemum flowers. They are chemically designed to be more toxic with lower break down times and are formulated with synergists increasing potency and compromising the body’s ability to detoxify the pesticide. Though claimed to be selectively toxic to insects, synthetic pyrethroids are extremely toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish in concentrations similar to those used for controlling mosquito, black fly and tsetse fly larvae, which are the actual targets of pyrethroids. 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. Recent studies show that some microbes are able to degrade synthetic pyrethroids by esterase production and this application is proposed as an inexpensive and simple method. In the present work, the aspects related to the toxicity and biodegradation of synthetic pyrethroids are discussed.

Keywords: synthetic pyrethroids, toxicity, biodegradation, microbes

Received January 09, 2013; Revised Month 21, 2013; Accepted May 22, 2013

Citation: A.J. Thatheyus, A.Deborah Gnana Selvam, Synthetic Pyrethroids: Toxicity and Biodegradation. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 1 (3). 33-36. January 2013. doi:10.12691/aees-1-3-2

1. Introduction

Contamination of the environment by chemicals is a serious and insidious side effect of human population explosion and technological advancement. Widespread uses of pesticides have not occurred until the 20th century, though chemicals were employeded much earlier to control insects, fungi and weeds. With the reduction in the use of organochlorine pesticides in the late 1960s, organophosphorous compounds then carbamates and finally synthetic pyrethroids came in to the market. These compounds though short lived than organochlorines and do not accumulate, have resulted in increased mortality of fish and wildlife [1].

Pyrethrum, a natural extract of the flowers of the plants, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium and Chrysanthemum cineum, has been used as a natural insecticide for a long period of time. Initially the extracts of pyrethrum and later, the specific synthetic chemical analogs have been produced. The six active insecticidal compounds of pyrethrum are popularly known as pyrethrins. 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. The pyrethroids are grouped into two classes namely Type I and Type II, based on the toxicological and physical properties. Type I pyrethroids are derivatives of pyrethrin that do not have a cyano group and elicit tumors and type II pyrethroids have cyoano group and cause chloreoathetosis and salivation (Table 1). Due to complex chemical structure, the pyrethroids are composed of two, four or eight isomers, and their commercially products may contain a mixture of these various isomers. The production of individual pyrethroids with varying isomeric ratios may be the reason for the variations in the toxicities of the same compound. For increasing the efficiency of the insecticides, the pyrethroids are formulated with compounds like piperonyl butoxide, piperonyl sulfoxide and sesamex, which act as synergists. Formulated commercial pyrethroids have a high percentage of other inert ingredients, which are highly toxic [2].

Table 1. Types of Synthetic Pyrethroids

Gan et al. [3] have reported the enrichment of bifenthrin and permethrin during transport resulting in higher levels in the sediment downstream from the source. Agrochemical runoff is of much concern as it affects surface water quality and results in wide-spectrum aquatic toxicity.

In California alone, 360 metric tones of pyrethroids are used and the residues of the compounds are prevalent in agriculture affected aquatic systems [4]. Rain water residue analysis in Hisar, India has shown the occurrence of synthetic pyrethroids ranging from 0.100-1.000µg/l. Among the SPs detected, cypermethrin was found to be present in large quantities (1µg/l). Presence of residues of these pesticides in rain water is fully justified as the vapors of these compounds come along with water [5]. These reports underlie the reality of pollution caused by pyrethroids and the need to reduce them.

2. Uses

Pyrethroids are broad spectrum insecticides, effective against a wide range of insect pests of the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera (Homoptera and Heteroptera), Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera and Thysanoptera. Prior to harvest, they are sprayed over edible products to control pests and are also used as household insecticides and grain protectants. They are employed in animal houses, fields, green houses and extensively used in veterinary medicine [2] (Table 2). The efficacy of the pyrethroids and their selectivity between insect species depends on factors like shape, key structural features like ester or non-ester, specific chirality and cis or trans stereochemistry across the cyclopropane ring, physical properties (e.g. volatile compounds are good against flying insect pests) and chemical properties (e.g. polar compounds better for knockdown and high lipophilicity which result in reduced fish toxicity while fluorinated compounds have high miticidal activity) [6].

Table 2. Applications of Pyrethroids

3. Toxicity of Synthetic Pyrethroids

3.1. Acute Toxicity to Mammals

Pyrethroids in general are less acutely toxic than the organochlorine, organophosphate and carbamate pesticides with the exeption of esfenvalerate, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, tefluthrin, flucythrinate, cyhalothrin and fenpropathrin which show the highest acute oral toxicities. Acute and sub-acute studies have shown the main effects of pyrethroids as neurotoxicity at high doses and liver hypertrophy which are reversible if death does not occur. Many pyrethroids are mildly to severely irritating to the skin and eyes and some cause facial skin sensitization.

3.2. Chronic and Sub-Chronic Toxicity

Signs of acute toxicity in mammals are the most notable. Other effects include reduction in growth rate, liver enlargement, and an increase in the activity of some enzymes in the liver. Suppression of the immune system and damage to the nervous system depend on the types of pyrethroids and the test organisms [7]. Allethrin blocks calcium and sodium channels which underlie some of the chronic effects of low level pyrethroid poisoning [8]. Occupational exposure to fenvalerate affected the semen quality of workers of a pesticide factory [9] and it was also associated with an increase in sperm DNA damage [10].

3.3. Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

The mutagenicity of pyrethroids is considered to be very low and only permethrin has been reported as a potential or weak carcinogen by USEPA [7]. A report by WHO [11] says that no laboratory studies have revealed any carcinogenic effect relevant to humans.

3.4. Human Exposure

In an extensive review of 573 cases of acute pyrethroid poisoning between 1983 and 1988 in China, most occurred from occupational or accidental exposure. A severe form of accidental pyrethroids poisoning was reported after introduction of the insecticide into air-conditioning ducts and the persons exposed suffered due to dyspnea, nausea, headache and irritability [12]. Chronic sequelae to pyrethroids exposure include cerebro-organic disorders, sensomotor-polyneuropathy in the lower extremities and vegetative nervous disorders, like paroxysmal tachycardia, increased heat sensitivity and reduced exercise tolerance related to circulatory dysfunction [13].

4. Effects on Other Non-Target Organisms

4.1. Birds

A report by Fishel [13] shows that most pyrethroids are non toxic to birds but they can be indirectly affected by pyrethroids through their food supply. Waterfowls which feed mostly on aquatic invertebrates are especially vulnerable (Table 3).

Table 3. Acute effects of pyrethroids and pyrethroid formulations on non-target organisms

In the environment pyrethroids are degraded by one or more biotic or abiotic processes: metabolic degradation by plants, animals and microorganisms and photodegradation.

Degradation of pyrethroids in the soil is mostly by chemical and microbial action. The rate of degradation depends on the type of pyrethroids, soil type, climate, the species of microbes present and the size of their population. The bacterial isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa CMG 154 has been found to utilize cypermethrin as the sole source of carbon [16]. A study by Parvathavarthini [17] has evaluated the efficiency of Enterobacter asburiae and Pseudomonas stutzeri which were found to degrade cypermethrin and the degradation is high at the concentration of 500 ppm (Table 4).

In a study by Lee et al. [18], 56 strains of SP-degrading bacteria have been isolated from contaminated sediments. They have evaluated the ability of six bacterial strains to transform bifenthrin and permethrin. Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphilia rapidly degraded bifenthrin and permethrin in the aqueous phase and reduced its half-life from>700h to 30-131h. Aeromonas sobria, Erwinia carotovora and Yersinia frederiksenii were found to degrade permethrin isomers. They reduced the half-life of cis-and trans-permethrin by approximately ten fold. Though they are said to have rapid rate of degradation in the environment, their adsorption to sediments increases their persistence by rendering them unavailable to SP-degraders which are present in the environment.

Table 4. Pyrethroid degrading bacterial strains tested in our laboratory

Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Achromobacter spp. were able to degrade permethrin, deltamethrin, fastac, fenvalerate and fluvalinate. Permethrin was the most rapidly degraded of the pyrethroids and deltamethrin was reported to be the most persistent (half-life of 21-28 days) [19]. P. fluorescens and Serratia plymuthica isolated from SP-contaminated farmland surrounding a sheep dipping facility and garden soil was observed to degrade SPs by at least 50% after twenty days of treatment. It was found to be greater than the natural breakdown which suggests biodegradation as a practical and appropriate solution for detoxifying SPs whether in dip trough, river or soil before they are disposed [20].

5. Conclusion

The growing population has increased the demand for food supply which in turn has increased the usage of insecticides and pesticides to protect the precious food source. This indiscriminate usage of pyrethroids has led to severe pollution which should be checked. New analytical techniques have to be developed to detect pyrethroids in the aquatic systems. Biodegradation is a practical approach to reduce pyrethroid toxicity in the environment and other approaches like the application of esterases to reduce pyrethroids toxicity can be seriously considered.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the authorities of The American College, Madurai for encouragement.

References

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