PYRETHROID COLLECTION QUOTES

7/29/2019 PYRETHROID COLLECTION QUOTES

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Murray Thompson (BAppSci Environmental Health): Pesticide

Research Quotes

PESTICIDE RESEARCH: QUOTES

COLLECTION (full sources/references

provided)By Murray Thompson (BAppSci Environmental Health, Hons I Social

Ecology, University of Western Sydney), 2002, 2010 & 2012

Web sites: http://poisonedpeople.com &

http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au

Note: The pesticide used on my unit (according to what I recall the

pest technician saying) was a synthetic pyrethroid termiticide

called Talstar or Biflex (with the active , but not the only,

ingredient being called Bifenthrin). The pesticide used at the

back of my sons mothers unit in McQuade Avenue South Windsor(Sydney, Australia) is likely an organophosphate herbicide

(possibly Roundup or similar). He was exposed to this herbicide

from mid-2003 on. Details of the toxicity and other properties of

both these varieties of pesticide, plus some of the carrier and so-

called inert ingredients included in the pesticide mixes, are

incorporated into this report.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION: CHEMICAL

DIFFUSION

Chemical diffusion is a term that potentially explains how pesticide

would migrate from soil, through concrete (which is very porous),

and into a human habitation. Further, in soil, bifenthrin is

relatively immobile, particularly in soils with large amounts of

organic matter, clay, or silt [the soil on this site is mostly clay].

Practically insoluble in water, bifenthrin has an insignificant

potential to leach to ground water [which means it remains in the

clay immediately next to the concrete slab where it was applied

and then theoretically diffuses through that clay, into the

concrete slab and then into my unit by way of vaporization]. Its soilhalf-life ranges from seven days to eight months, depending on the

soil type and amount of air in the soil... Although bifenthrin exhibits

low volatility, its Henrys Constant suggests that it may readily

move to the vapor phase because of its insolubility in water.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS Product labels warn that bifenthrin

is harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.

Further, the label cautions against breathing the dust, vapor, or

spray mist (my emphasis) (Wales 1998:149). I believe this

information from the STATE OF CALIFORNIA Department of

Pesticide Regulation Environmental Monitoring and Pest

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Management Branch very adequately supports my contention of

bifenthrin diffusive migration, vaporization into my unit and toxicity.

PESTICIDES -- GENERAL

Children exposed to a variety of pesticides in an agricultural

community in Mexico show impaired stamina, coordination,

memory, and capacity to represent familiar subjects in drawings

(Schettler, et al 2000:3).

Other families of pesticides including pyrethroids , pyrethrins, and

organochlorines also exert their toxic action by interfering with

nerve cell function (Schettler, et al 2000:81).

PYRETHROIDS

Naturally-occurring pyrethrins or synthetic pyrethroids are

insecticides that also exert their toxic action by interfering with the

electrical activity of nerve cells. They are sometimes divided into

Type I and Type II compounds. Type I cause repetitive firing of

nerve cells while Type II cause nerve inexcitability by blockingcell

depolarization (Schettler, et al 2000:83).

Pyrethroids, pyrethrins, and organochlorines also exert their toxic

action by interfering with nerve cell function. By modifying the

permeability of nerve cell membranes to various ions they mayeither increase or decrease the excitability of nerve cells causing

repetitive firing or prolonged inactivity. Studies done in developing

animals show that each of these classes of insecticides may also

permanently alter neuroreceptor levels in portions of the brain and

modify

animal behavior as a result (Schettler, et al 2000:84-85).

TALSTAR, BIFLEX, BIFENTHRIN

BIFENTHRIN This chemical is a synthetic pyrethroid, the use of

which has recently been extended to include termite control. It has

a slight odour, noticeable after use. Like chlorpyrifos, it is registered

for new and existing buildings (Ministry of Fair Trading [no

date]:2).

Bifenthrin (Talstar, Biflex) Pesticide Tolerances for

Emergency Exemptions 9/00

IV. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of

Safety

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B. Exposure Assessment

3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is used in

this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary exposure (e.g., for

lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control, termiticides, and flea

and tick control on pets).

Bifenthrin is currently registered for use on the following residential non-

dietary sites: lawns to control flea infestation, pets and as a termiticide.

Registered termiticide use of bifenthrin constitutes a chronic exposure

scenario; however, the exposure is considered negligible, considering the

application technique of the termiticide use (buried underground) and the

fact that vapor pressure of bifenthrin is extremely low. The Agency

conducted a residential exposure assessment for the lawn care uses of

bifenthrin. This risk assessment is based on post-application to treated

lawns (turf use), a worst case scenario estimate of residential exposure. An

assessment of applicator exposure was not included since the registered

products are primarily limited to commercial use and, therefore, applied by

professional lawn care operators. Inhalation, dermal and oral non- dietary

routes of exposure were evaluated by this short-term and intermediate-

term risk assessment. For adults, the routes of exposure from these

registered residential uses include dermal and inhalation, and for infants

and children, the routes of exposure include dermal, inhalation, and oral

(non-dietary) (EPA 2000).

ORGANOPHOSPHATES

My son was exposed to an organophosphate (OP) termiticide

behind his mothers residence.

OPs are rapidly absorbed through the skin (Workers Health Centre

1992:3) and can be inhaled, whereupon they are rapidly absorbed

(NCAP 2000:11).

OPs are neurotoxicants, and are known to inhibit the enzymeacetylcholinesterase (Environmental Protection Agency

1995:26938).

OPs are highly toxic , and may cause death when ingested, even

in small doses (Workers Health Centre 1992:3).

Human and experimental animal evidence exists indicating that

there may be residual, if not permanent, effects of exposure

(Environmental Protection Agency 1995, citing: Steenland et al.

1994; Tandon et al. 1994; Stephens at al. 1995).

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OP pesticides have been implicated in bone abnormalities in fish

(Ewing 1999:35).

The OP poisoning of children (including ingestion and inhalation ofthe chemicals) has resulted in the generation of numerous

symptoms and events including slowed heart rate, pulmonary

edema (where some of the children required ventilators for several

hours), death from parathion poisoning, stupor, coma, hypotonicity i

and muscle weakness, and some muscarinic ii symptoms (Pesticide

Action Network 1999:2, citing Lifshitz et al. 1999:102-103).

The OP poisoning of farm families (not themselves occupationally

exposed, but merely living with farmers who used OPs) in

agricultural communities in rural El Salvador presented symptoms

such as limb cramps, chest pressure, changes in defecation, feeling

dazed and increased lacrimation all acute health effects produced

in individuals not involved in field work themselves (Pesticide Action

Network 1999:4, citing: Azaroff & Neas 1999:158-164)).

Home fumigation with OPs has produced acute and reversible

Parkinsonism (symptoms of Parkinsons Disease, or a syndrome

resembling Parkinsons) (Pesticide Action Network 1999:4, citing:

Bhatt et al. 1999:1467-1471).

Animal study evidence suggests that OP pesticide exposure can

lead to neurodevelopmental effects such as reduced balance,

increasing righting reflex time, and diminished cliff avoidance

(Pesticide Action Network 2000:2, citing Eskenazi et al. 1999:409-

416).

Occupational exposure to OPs in China resulted in increases to

rates of sperm aneuploidy iii(Pesticide Action Network 2000:4, citing

Padungtod et al. 1999:230-238).

OP pesticides (eg oxydemeton-methyl, methyl parathion and

methamidophos) are responsible for most of the occupational

deaths and poisonings in the U.S. and throughout the

world (Reeves, et al. 1999:18, citing Blondell & Dobozy 1997;

Keifer & Mahurin 1997; Moses et al. 1993, Savage et al. 1988).

The significance of childrens exposure to pesticides is best

understood in terms of the following:

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They inhale a greater volume of air in relation to their body

weight (they respire faster) than adults, and so receive a

larger dose (NCAP 2000:12-14, citing NRC 1993; Bennett et al

1998:831-842).

They have a greater skin surface area proportional to body

mass. This means that equivalent exposures in an adult and

child results in a greater dose for the child (NCAP 2000:12-14,

citing NRC 1993), in fact 6 times greater (Environmental

Health Network 1989).

Childrens nervous systems are more susceptible to the

impact of nerve poisons (NCAP 2000:4, citing NRC 1993;

Watanabe, et al 1990).

Children cannot effectively detoxify certain chemicals

(compared to adults) and so are much more vulnerable to

poisoning (NCAP 2000:4, citing NRC 1993).

The dividing cells in childrens bodies are more susceptible to

the impact of cancer-causing chemicals (NCAP 2000:4, citing

NRC 1993).

Their immune systems, being underdeveloped, are more

prone to damage from exposure to foreign compounds (NCAP

2000:4, citing Repetto & Baliga 1996; NRC 1993).

REFERENCES

EPA 2000, Bifenthrin (Talstar, Biflex) Pesticide Tolerances for

Emergency Exemptions 9/00 [Federal Register: September 27, 2000

(Volume 65, Number 188), Rules and Regulations, Page 57972-

57980, From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access

(wais.access.gpo.gov), http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/insect-

mite/abamectin-bufencarb/bifenthrin/Bifenthrin_tol_900.html .

Ministry of Fair Trading [no date], Environmental Health Guide Protecting Your House from Termites , 251 Hay Street, EAST PERTH

WA 6004 Australia.

Schettler, T., Stein, J., Reich, F. & Valenti, M. 2000, In Harms Way:

Toxic Threats to Child Development , Greater Boston Physicians for

Social Responsibility (GBPSR), 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA

02138 USA.

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i Hypotonia : Loss of muscular tonicity, relaxation of the arteries (Stedmans

Medical Dictionary 1976:683).

ii Muscarinic : Cardiac inhibition, vasodilation, salivation, lacrimation,

bronchoconstriction, gastrointestinal stimulation (Stedmans Medical

Dictionary 1976:893).

iiiAneuploidy : having an abnormal chromosome count (Stedmans Medical

Dictionary 1976:73).

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