The-Mobility-Persistence-&-Toxicity-of-Bifenthrin

7/29/2019 The-Mobility-Persistence-&-Toxicity-of-Bifenthrin

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Bifenthrin: How Mobile, Persistent & Toxic The Chemical Is

BIFENTHRIN (A Synthetic Pyrethroid

Termiticide)* How Mobile The Chemical Is

* How Long It Persists in the Environment

* How Toxic It IsCollated & written by Murray Thompson (BAppSci Environmental Health 1998, Hons I Social Ecology 1999,

University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury)

August 2009 & April 2012

Web sites: http://poisonedpeople.com& http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au

This is a literature study focusing on the dynamics involved in the application of pesticides

containing the synthetic pyrethroid product Bifenthrin. This study addesses whether or not

Bifenthrin is mobile (that is, does the chemical MOVE from its point of placement?). Also

the persistence of Bifenthrin is examined (that is, does the chemical persist in its

presence/location over time?). As well, this study addresses the actual toxicity of the

product (that is, how toxic is the product to humans and the environment?), cancer risk,

chemical diffusion (that is, how do chemicals MOVE?), and indoor air quality.

Bifenthrin: Mobile Through "Vapor Phase"

Note this amazing article by Dr. Lee Chow Yang:

"Tunneling Responses of the Asian Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes gestroi in

Termiticide-Treated Sand (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)"

by Boon-Hoi, Yeoh & Chow-Yang, Lee)

Sociobiology Vol. 50, No. 2, 2007

At: http://idisk.mac.com/chowyang/Public/091.pdf I found the below-quoted info by Dr. Lee

Chow Yang (see here for information on Dr. Yang:http://www.usm.my/bio/bioschool/StaffLeeCY.html). Many people typically repeat

(regurgitate) orthodox and institutionalized information on bifenthrin that seems to mean

that this info must not be questioned or significantly updated. Ad nauseum it is stated that

magically, according to whatever original data became institutionalized long ago on the

back of (more likely) advertizing from the product's manufacturer: bifenthrin doesn't move

in soil after application. I beg to differ with the following research.

Termites were killed in bifenthrin treatments, and this suggested the

movement of the chemical from treated into untreated sections. Su &

Scheffrahn (1990) reported the movement of a pyrethroid (tralomethrin) fromtreated sand to the a ar la er in their ex eriment a ainst R. flavi es causin

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high mortalities even though the termites did not reach the treated area.

Now, we are here looking at a very interesting DYNAMIC. Physically deposited Bifenthrin in

a pesticide compound supposedly dutifully stayed put where it was applied in the soil/sand.However, SOMETHING moved away from this point of deposition and affected termites

distant from this site. Here is the clue in this fine article:

Many other researchers also reported the role of vapor phase in their

experiments. Ebeling & Pence (1958) noticed that the vapour phase of

chlorinated hydrocarbons had penetrated into areas beyond the treated soil

and was killing the termites. Isoborneol has also shown a high rate of

evaporation in sand (Blaske et al. 2003).

Hydrocarbons mixed into the overall pesticide compound can volatilize and move, at the

very least. Perhaps the hydrocarbons can actually carry the Bifenthrin with it? Note:

Although bifenthrin has low volatility when applied on dry soil, it possesses a

higher migration potential in wetter conditions (Fecko 1999). The movement of

the termiticide (and emulsifier) was probably facilitated by water solubility

(Smith & Rust 1990; 1991) and vapor pressure (Su et al. 1982; Smith & Rust

1990; 1991).

The article goes on to note that toxicant, thus moving from the point of pesticide deposition

under the influence of a high vapor pressure, might be deposited onto the cuticle of the

termites. This toxicant then penetrates through the cuticle, thus affecting termites who

have not directly contacted the applied termiticide (the article gave: Su et al. 1982 & Smith

& Rust 1991 as the reference at this point in the discussion.). Source:

http://idisk.mac.com/chowyang/Public/091.pdf (page 464); accessed: August 2009.

If vapor pressure affects termites in untreated soil areas, then this means that bifenthrin

and hydrocarbon or, at the very least, the hydrocarbon portion of the pesticide mixture will

migrate through soil and then into a concrete slab. All or some parts of the biflex/talstar

mixture are therefore available for transport via vapor pressure gradients.

Many continuously declare the impossibility of an external chemical barrier Biflex

termiticide treatment ever intersecting people inside a residence. The repetition of fixed,

monolithic statements like these seems to have become a 'religion' and are, as such and

especially given the research stated above, highly suspect, if not totally repudiated by well

and truly updated and competent data. A further repudiation of this outmoded and patently

erroneous religious doctrine of Bifenthrin immobility is provided by my experience inside

my New South Wales Department of Housing ground floor residence. A termiticide

treatment in my case was, in fact, deposited directly onto a plate of concrete extending out

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rom an con nuous w e s a oun a on o e res ence see:

http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/photos/unit/anomalous-concrete.pdf &

http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/photos/unit/MurrayThompson_SequenceOfHoleDug.pdf

The solvent or hydrocarbon portion of the Biflex/Bifenthrin termiticide mixture at the veryleast penetrated this cement plate, following it into the slab from which it outgassed toxic

vapors up through the unit's carpet, vapors that were noticeable for almost 15 months after

the pesticide application on 7th December 2000. I could not close any windows or doors in

my unit for this period and well beyond as symptoms of incoordination, dizziness, "brain

fog" and headache would increase to ridiculous levels.

This is my experience. However, have I evaluated what happened at my unit correctly?

Indeed, and by way of another important sub-heading: Can Pesticide Move From the Soil

into the Concrete Slab Under Your Unit? Note the following:

Though fairly impervious to water movement, concrete is easily penetrated by

vapors and solvents. It is also prone to cracking. For these reasons, the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes that concrete alone may not

provide an effective barrier to pesticide movement and has proposed that

concrete in pesticide secondary containment structures be sealed or coated to

reduce its permeability.

Broder, M.F. [Agricultural Engineer] & Nguyen, D.T. [Corrosion Specialist] 1995 [online].

INTRODUCTION in Coating Concrete Secondary Containment Structures Exposed to

Agrichemicals. Land and Water Sciences Environmental Research Center, Muscle Shoals,Alabama 35662, June 1995, Tennessee Valley Authority. Accessed: August 2009.

Downloaded from:

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=9B60667EE878CBC7004A31B58ED9

98B6?purl=/236249-iW80zX/webviewable/.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that VOCs & termiticides easily enter buildings. I note

that "Risk Assessment And Indoor Air Quality", by by Max Eisenberg, E. Anderson and R.E.

Albert (http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/risk-assessment-and-indoor-air-

quality/1118037/; accessed:11 March 2012) shows that negative pressures allow VOCs and

termiticides to enter buildings. And page 189 of this document describes the persistence ofeven a banned pesticide from previously termite-treated soil!

I sued Housing for forcing two pesticide treatments on me (treatments that I had

specifically and assertively prohibited). Housing were strangely awarded the case (which

was, of course, highly 'inconvenient' to Housing, Pestkil & Housing's former insurer) and

pronounced 'not guilty' of having been negligent in my situation. I was, however, found

'guilty' (according to accusations made by Housing's Barrister in court) of purposely

allowing myself and my 8 year old son to be poisoned... (who would eat up rubbish like

this?). I was left with the 'legacy' of their utter incompetence, now having a metabolic

injury or 'bomb' permanently and irrevocably inserted into every one of my body's cells (nota fake collar bomb but a real metabolic disaster oin off ever milli-second .

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See: http://poisonedpeople.com & http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au for details. All the

information on these sites is FREE to view or download. For a full listing of any references

(e.g. "(Dingle, 2005)") given above, please see my online Essay located at:

http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/essays/essay1-worldwide-disease-pandemics.pdf .The following sites might be useful in terms of securing nutritional products to bring about

repair and balance in a body affected by chemical poisoning:

http://MurrayThompson.greatshapetoday.com.au

http://herbalhungry.herbalhub.com.au/

http://organic.shoestringmall.com

Murray Thompson

(BAppSci Environmental Health 1998; Hons I Social Ecology 1999; Current Sociology PhD

student, University of Western Sydney)

* * *

Do You Want To Work From Home? Herbal Products

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Bifenthrin Is NOT Immobile, As Well As Being Quite

Persistent

Note the following article, entitled: "Distribution and persistence of pyrethroids in runoff

sediments". This journal article supports the observation that Bifenthrin is NOT immobile, as

well as being quite persistent.

Pyrethroids are commonly used insecticides in both agricultural and urban

environments. Recent studies showed that surface runoff facilitated transport

of pyrethroids to surface streams, probably by sediment movement. Sediment

contamination by pyrethroids is of concern due to their wide-spectrum aquatic

toxicity.

The article then waxes extremely technical, however it clearly and strongly shows that

pyrethroid contaminants such as Bifenthrin and Permethrin showed up as residues in

eroded sediment along a runoff path of 260m! The contaminant "enrichment" was

apparently selective because it coincided with the runoff pathway enrichment of sediment

"clay fractions" and "organic carbon" or, in other words, "organic matter and chemical-rich

fine particles."

And, as to persistence? "Long persistence was observed for BF [Bifenthrin] under both

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, ...

significant enrichment, along with the prolonged persistence, suggests that movement of

pyrethroids to the surface water may be caused predominantly by the chemically rich fine

particles."

The article, on the basis of this recognition of the mobility and persistence in pyrethroid

contaminants, strongly argues for "mitigation strategies to reduce offsite movement of fine

sediment." (Source: http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/34/3/836; received for

publication June 23, 2004 and published in J Environ Qual 34:836-841 (2005); accessed:

August 2009 & http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15843646; Authors: Gan, J., Lee, S.J.,

Liu, W.P., Haver, D.L. & Kabashima, J.N.; accessed: 11 March 2012.)




http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/essays/essay1-worldwide-disease-pandemics.pdf .

The following sites might be useful in terms of securing nutritional products to bring about





Murray Thompson



* * *

General Health Problems Associated With A Chemical

Barrier Termite Treatment

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) in the US has completed a human health risk

assessment on the use of the active ingredient bifenthrin as a subterranean termiticide

(BiflexB TC).

"Using current toxicity and exposure data, DPR finds that significant adverse effects could

occur as a result of the use of BiflexB TC during postconstruction termiticide treatments."

Source: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/risk/rcd/bifent_t.pdf; accessed: 22 April 2010.

As well, Biflex is:

1. moderately acutely toxic

2. a possible CARCINOGEN

3. a suspected endocrine disruptor

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4. a g y tox c eve opmenta or repro uct ve tox n

5. acutely toxic to aquatic life

Source: http://69.59.152.188/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=00027903112&DIST_NR=000279;

accessed: 22 April 2010










Murray Thompson



* * *

CANCER Risk From Bifenthrin

The article entitled: "Tumor-promoting activity and mutagenicity of 5 termiticide

compounds" (Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15624354?dopt=Abstract;Journal of UOEH, 2004 Dec 1;26(4):423-30; accessed: August 2009) seems to imply that

Bifenthrin can cause cancer.

Note:

The tumor-promoting activities of 5 commercial compounds used in

termiticides were measured by a cell-transformation assay employing Bhas 42

cells... The results of the transformation assay confirmed the tumor-promoting

activities of fenitrothion, silafluofen and bifenthrin... Consideration of 2-stage

carcinogenesis suggests that concurrent use of and long-term exposure to thesecompounds that have tumor-promoting and initiator activity, and compounds

exhibiting either type of activity individually should be avoided as much as

possible.

The authors are: Goto, S., Asada, S., Fushiwaki, Y., Mori, Y., Tanaka, N., Umeda, M.,

Nakajima, D., & Takeda, K., and they are from the Research Center for Material Cycles and

Waste Management, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba,

Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.

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. . . .









Murray Thompson



* * *



Chemical Diffusion Can Do Almost Anything!

Better research now shows that chemicals have the ability to move in ways not previously

understood or appreciated. Chemicals can pass through materials, and even against otherprocesses that we would normally assume present a barrier to movement. Note:

it is only recently that it has been generally recognized that there is a second

contaminant transport process which will occur even through a very low

hydraulic conductivity clay liner: that process is chemical diffusion diffusion

may be the dominant contaminant transport mechanism in a well-constructed

clay liner. Furthermore, contaminants can escape from a waste disposal site, by

diffusion through a liner, even if water flow in the liner is into the landfill.

Rowe, R.K. 1994, Diffusive transport of pollutants through clay liners, in Landfilling of

Waste: Barriers, eds, T.H. Christensen, R. Cossu & R. Stagmann. E. & F.N. Spon, London, UK,

page 219.







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. . .



Murray Thompson



* * *

Pesticide Mobility & Persistence, & Indoor Air Quality

Note that: http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/chemical/bfnthrin/ukpid46.htm

provides info on Bifenthrin not usually found elsewhere.

The magic doctrine that everyone seems to have embraced is that the Bifenthrin binds to

the soil and doesn't move. This is a convenience in terms of painting a rosy picture

supporting manufacturer's advertizing. This theory of immobility strongly asserts no

possibility of human intersection (and poisoning) and no environmental impact. It is a

complete farce.

Further note:

"Characterizing Exposures to Nonpersistent Pesticides during Pregnancy and Early Childhoodin the National Childrens Study..."

(http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1280354)

"Pesticide loadings of select organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides in urban public

housing" (http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v18/n2/abs/7500576a.html )

"Reconstructing population exposures to environmental chemicals from biomarkers:

Challenges and opportunities"

(http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v19/n2/abs/jes20089a.html )

"Pesticides and their Metabolites in the Homes and Urine of Farmworker Children Living in

the Salinas Valley, CA" (http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v17/n4/abs/7500507a.html )

Note: "Environmental Exposure to Chemicals Through Dermal Contact"

(http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=czsEw6wHG28C&oi=fnd&pg=PA111&

dq=VOCS+and+pyrethroids+in+the+indoor+environment+following+termiticide&ots=kCW

TtAPXkR&sig=dh3KEGStKE-D_2TC-ddFCRcKTeY) is an article that seems to support that

VOC/pyrethroid enters the body via the mucosa.

Comparison of risks from outdoor and indoor exposure to toxic chemicals(http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1568414)

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"PESTICIDES AND AUSTRALIAN INDOOR AIR QUALITY"

(http://www.drinkingnightmare.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/9E7C7A0E9

A0A03E8CA256F1900042DB2/$File/env_indoorair.pdf#page=76). This article particularly

notes on page 77:

Environmental persistence of pesticides usually increases within indoor

environments compared with natural or outdoor environments because of less

exposure to direct sunlight, lower moisture and reduced microbiological

activity. Among chemical types or classes, the natural pyrethrins have a low

persistence while persistence tends to increase from synthetic pyrethroids,

carbamates, organophosphorus insecticides to organochlorines and inorganics

such as arsenic trioxide or boron compounds. However, persistence may vary

between and within chemical classes and is also influenced by the nature of the

indoor environment (e.g. increased bifenthrin and chlorpyriphos persistenceunder slabs).

And when Bifenthrin is pumped directly on top of concrete that is continuous with your

unit's foundation slab, moves through that concrete into the slab, and then outgasses

solvent vapor into the living space of the unit above the slab, then you become painfully

aware that you have been poisoned by a subterranean termiticide treatment, and that this

research is accurate. See: http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/photos/unit/anomalous-

concrete.pdf&

http://poisoningandlegalaction.com.au/photos/unit/MurrayThompson_SequenceOfHoleDug.pdf










Murray Thompson



* * *



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DURSBAN TC: Air Sampling Results Revealed Elevated Levels

of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

New York State Pesticide Poisoning Registry Report 1998

Note from this extract that you cannot stop the movement and contamination of

hydrocarbon vapor after the application of a pesticide:

A PCC reported a family who relocated to a hotel, due to concern about

remaining in their Dursban TC-treated home. A termite application to the

foundation had been performed earlier in the month... Sampling results

revealed elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home and

several aromatic hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon pattern was a close match to

that of other homes known to have Dursban TC contamination. The elevated

VOCs may have been from the petroleum carrier of the pesticide. The

recommendation was made that remediation of the contamination in the home

be conducted. (Note - In June 2000, the EPA announced a ban on most home

and garden uses of Dursban due to concerns about health risks.)

Note that on page 6 the above document adds rather scarily: "The number of pesticide-

related acute health effects reported to the NYSPPR is expected to represent an

underestimate of the true incidence of cases..." (Source: New York State Department of

Health, Bureau of Occupational Health 1998, "Pesticide Poisoning Registry",

http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/workplace/pesticide_poisoning_registry/

docs/pesticide_report_98.pdf; accessed: August 2009)










Murray Thompson



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http://poisonedpeople.com Web site inaugurated: April 13th, 2006 Copyright 2012 Murray Thompson [email protected]

Postal Address:PO Box 605New Norfolk

TAS 7140Australia

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The-Mobility-Persistence-&-Toxicity-of-Bifenthrin