Synthetic Pyrethroid Use Patterns, Properties, and Environmental Effects

In this paper we present a broad overview of the class of insecticides known as synthetic pyrethroids. The discussion includes a summary of agricultural and urban pyrethroid use patterns and trends, pyrethroid chemical structure and properties, the significance of photostability to pyrethroid environmental fate, and hydrophobicity, persistence and relative aquatic toxicity as compared to other pesticides. Finally we provide a brief summary of California's regulatory response to recent detections of pyrethroids in aquatic sediments and a discussion of scientific and regulatory issues associated with ongoing pyrethroid aquatic exposure assessments and mitigation efforts.