Pyrethroid concentrations and persistence following indoor application

Residential indoor environments are potential sources of exposure to pyrethroids, which have low acute toxicity to humans but are allergenic and suspected endocrine disruptors. The present study evaluated the persistence of the pyrethroids cypermethrin and beta-cyfluthrin on indoor surfaces and in house dust. Cypermethrin and beta-cyfluthrin were applied and maintained on aluminum foils and in dust samples for 112 d under controlled conditions and for 12 mo in a test house; periodically, they were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Cypermethrin and beta-cyfluthrin concentrations showed decreases of 10.1% and 7.7% on aluminum foils, and 12.7% and 16.4% in dust, respectively, at 112 d under controlled conditions. In the test house, cypermethrin and beta-cyfluthrin concentrations decreased by 40.3% and 60.2% on aluminum foils, and 29.6% and 56.2% in dust at the end of the study. The results show the considerable persistence of cypermethrin and beta-cyfluthrin indoors and indicate the risk of exposure to these products. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2895-2898. © 2017 SETAC.