Pyrethroid pesticides are a family of pesticides that are used in agriculture.

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Over the past few decades, toxic organophosphate pesticides have been increasingly replaced by pyrethroid pesticides. This newer family of pesticides is considered a safer, less toxic alternative. But are pesticides bad for us, even pyrethroid pesticides? New studies provide compelling evidence that pyrethroid pesticides may not be as safe as once thought, especially for our children.

What are pyrethroid pesticides?

Pyrethroid pesticides are a family of pesticides that are used in agriculture, as well as many household products like insecticides for the home, pet sprays and shampoos, lice treatments, and mosquito repellents. Children, in particular, are at risk for exposure to these pesticides because they are closer to and have more contact with the floor and surfaces where the pesticides collect. Children tend to have higher levels of pyrethroid metabolites in their urine compared to adults.[1] 

So why are pesticides bad for kids? For one thing, pyrethroid pesticides seem to be neurotoxic, meaning they alter the normal function of our nervous system. They have been linked to alterations in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which involved in attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).[2]

Pyrethroid pesticide exposure and ADHD

A new study published in the journal Environmental Exposure measured levels of a pyrethroid metabolite called 3-PBA in the urine of children and teens aged eight to 15 years old. They found that children with detectable levels of 3-PBA  were more than twice as likely to have ADHD compared to those with non-detectable levels. For every 10-fold increase in 3-PBA levels, hyperactive-impulsive symptoms increased by 50%. When the researchers broke down the results by sex, they found that ADHD symptoms and 3-PBA levels were significantly associated in boys but not in girls.[2]

These pesticides may cause cognitive impairments, too

Another recent study followed 287 pregnant mothers and their children up to their sixth birthday. They measured pyrethroid metabolite concentrations in the urine of both the mothers (during pregnancy) and their children later on. They found that 3-PBA and cis-DBCA (another marker of pyrethroid exposure) levels during childhood were strongly associated with reduced verbal comprehension scores and reduced working memory scores at six years of age. There seemed to be no effect of pesticide exposure during pregnancy and cognitive scores, however.[1]

Reducing your exposure

If you want to keep your child safe from these neurotoxic effects, reducing their exposure is key. The biggest source of pyrethroid exposure in the general population is through diet,[1] so the most important step you can take is to choose organic foods. Going organic will significantly reduce your exposure to most dangerous pesticides. If you have a limited selection of organic produce near you, learn which foods are the most important to buy organic (and which are okay if non-organic) here.

Pesticides from household products can settle in dust and get ingested by children, so be sure to also keep your home clean and dust-free.

To read more about the health risks of pesticides, read the following blogs:

• The Alarming Link Between Pesticides and Autism
• Are Pesticides Harmful? Pesticides on Food May be What Causes Low Sperm Count in Some Men
• Alarming New Evidence Links Pesticides Used in GMOs and Cancer

By choosing organic, pesticide-free foods and keeping your home dust-free, you can significantly reduce your family’s exposure and keep them safe from the many dangers that pesticides pose.

Share your experience

How do you protect yourself and your family from pesticides? Do you buy organic? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

[1]Environ Int. 2015 Jun 4;82:69-75.

[2] Environ Health. 2015 May 28;14:44.