Professor of Biology
Pace University
Pleasantville, N.Y.
Piperonyl butoxide is a synergist used in conjunction with synthetic pyrethroids.
Sumithrin (Anvil 2 + 2) a pyrethroid insecticide contains 2% sumithrin, 2% piperonyl butoxideand 96% inert ingredients.
Resmithrin (Scourge) a pyrethroid insecticide contains 18% resmethrin, 54% piperonyl butoxide and 28% inert ingredients.
Manufacturers are not required to disclose the inert ingredients. Toxicity or safety of these agents, therefore, is unknown.
New York City is using both Anvil and Scourge as fogging sprays.
Westchester County is using Anvil as the fogging spray.
Inhaled pyrethroid insecticides can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, runny or stuffy nose, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
Skin contact can cause a rash, itching, or blisters.
Piperonyl butoxide can cause skin and eye irritation but all the health effects of this chemical have not been fully researched.
FREQUENT symptoms and signs of exposure to pyrethroids and piperonyl butoxide are particularly dangerous for asthmatics. Wheezing and sudden bronchospasm, swelling of oral and laryngeal mucous membranes, and anphylactic shock have been reported.
Delayed appearance of dyspnea (difficulty in breathing), cough and fever, with patchy lung infiltrates on x-ray suggest hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
An article published in MMWR (June 4, 1999, 48(21):443-447) entitled "Illnesses associated with occupational use of flea-control products - California, Texas, and Washington, 1989-1997) on the use of insecticide-containing-flea control products among pet groomers presented interesting data on accidental poisonings.
In the Editorial Note: "Pyrethrins have low toxicity in humans (EPA classified as acute toxicity category III compounds), exposures have caused dermatitis and uper respiratory tract irritation. Allergic contact dermatitis and asthma, sometimes resulting in death, have also been reported.
Piperonyl butoxide (an EPA acute toxicity category IV compound) is added to pyrethrins to slow chemical metabolism. No published reports of eye injury involving pyrethrins or piperonyl butoxide were identified."
Interestingly enough the EPA does not require adequate safety training for use of toxicy category III and IV compunds, the findings in this report suggest that safety training and PPE may be needed during pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxidc use.
RESMETHRIN (Scourge)
In the Extoxnet review of resmethrin under Reproductive effects: "a three-generation study with rats showed a slight increase in premature stillbirths and a decrease in pup weight at 25 mg/kg, the lowest dose tested. Since these doses are much higher than expected human exposures, it is unlikely such effects will occur in humans."
Under Teratogenic effects: " No birth defects were observed in the offspring of rabbits given doses as high as 100 mg/kg/day. Skeletal aberrations were seen in the offspring of rats given doses higher than 40 mg/kg/day. No teratogenic effects were observed in mice at dose levels of 50 mg/kg/day over an unspecified period. It is unlikely that teratogenic effects will be seen in humans under normal circumstances."
Under Organ Toxicity: " Pyrethroids may cause adverse effects on the central nervous system. Long-term feeding studies have shown increased liver and kidney weights and adverse changes in liver tissues in test animals."
Resmithrin is practically non-toxic to birds; highly toxic to fish especially mosquitofish (7 ug/L) in LC96 tests.
Resmithrin is highly toxic to bees.
Resmithrin has a half-life of approximately 30 days in soil and 36.5 days in water.
BREAKDOWN IN VEGETATION: NO INFORMATION WAS FOUND.
This information is being provided to help the consumer gain more information on the possible effects of these insecticides: Anvil and Scourge.
Hopefully the health departments in Westchester County and New York City are checking the local hospitals for any possible increase in the number of patients experiencing problems with asthma, central nervous system disorders, and expecially in patients with already compromised immune systems.
