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The allethrins are a group of related synthetic compounds used in insecticides. They are classified as pyrethroids, i.e. synthetic versions of pyrethrin, a chemical with insecticidal properties found naturally in Chrysanthemum flowers. They were first synthesized in the United States by Milton S. Schechter in 1949. Allethrin was the first pyrethroid.[1]
They are commonly used in ultra-low volume sprays for outdoor mosquito control, and in many household insecticides such as RAID, as well as mosquito coils.
Allethrin I and allethrin II differ by having a methyl group and a methyl ester, respectively, on one terminus. Each of these allethrins consists of the eight possible stereoisomers. A partly enantiopure variant of allethrin I, consisting of only two stereoisomers in an approximate ratio of 1:1, is called bioallethrin. The same mixture of isomers, but in an approximate ratio of 3:1, is known as esbiothrin.
Chronic exposure to allethrins alters the plasma biochemical profile of humans and may have adverse health effects.[2] Bioallethrin has been shown to cause oxidative damage, cellular toxicity and necrosis of human lymphocytes studied in vitro.[3] It is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. At normal application rates, allethrin is slightly toxic to bees.[4] Insects subject to exposure become paralyzed (nervous system effect) before dying. Allethrins are toxic to cats[5] because they either do not produce, or produce less of certain isoforms of glucuronosyltransferase, which serve in hepatic detoxifying metabolism pathways.[6]
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2014) |
