Pyrethroid Environmental Exposure as Risk Factor for Mammal Diseases

Insecticides are worldwide used for agricultural and public health purposes but their toxic effects on wildlife and humans, their environmental persistence, and their concentration in the food supply led to restrictions and in some case to prohibitions on their use. In fact, there is increasing evidence that environmental exposure to insecticides should also be considered a potential risk factor for many diseases. Among insecticides, pyrethroids are a class of synthetic compounds derived by pyrethrin, natural component of chrysanthemum plant, designed to be more chemically potent and environmentally stable than natural pyrethrins, mainly used in and around households, including on pets, in mosquito control, and in agriculture. Pyrethroids can enter the organism by accidental ingestion or in food, by inhalation and/or by skin contact. Although these pesticides pose a relatively low risk to mammals due to rapid metabolism with no significant accumulation, they can induce adverse health effects, more often in acute poisoning, but also due to chronic exposure. This review focalizes on the toxicity of pyrethroids and their metabolites pointing out to their correlation with the onset of main diseases correlated with neurodegeneration, cardiovascular, immune and redox system impairment. Data deriving from acute and chronic mammal exposure will be considered.