Professor
Pace University
Dept. of Biological Sciences
The following toxicity information on Resmethrin was obtained from the extoxnet link below.
There have been few systemic poisonings of humans by pyrethroids.
Pyrethroids are not cholinesterase inhibitors.
Toxic symptoms of resmethrin are like those of other pyrethrins and include immediate irritability, tremors, coma and death.
Technical resmethrin is a mixture of two main isomers:
20-30% cis isomer and 70-80% trans isomer.
Metabolites of trans isomer of resmethrin are more toxic than the parent compound.
Radiocarbon resmethrin was fed orally to lactating Jersey cows at 10 mg/kg. The cis isomer was eliminated primarily in the feces, but the trans isomer was eliminated in the urine. Tissue residues at 48 hour post-treatment were low except in liver and kidney which were generally higher.
The environmental degredation of resmethrin is not available. It hasn't been done for water or soil.
Resmethrin was registered before November 1, 1984.
All pesticides must meet the new safety standard of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.
Resmethrin is found on List A, for which EOPA issued registration prior to FIFRA, as amended in 1988. The producers of the pesticide has made commitments to conduct the studies and pay the fees required for reregistration, and are meeting those commitments in a timely manner.
