“The state of California has the power to ban a product based on the outcome of the reevaluation,” Weston said, “but I don’t think anyone is expecting that to occur. More likely there will be further regulations pertaining to the use of pyrethroids.”

Also, the EPA this year is reevaluating pyrethroids as part of its 2010 pesticide review. The EPA systematically evaluates all registered pesticides every 15 years. Potential outcomes include banning pyrethroids in certain areas, tightening policies or no change to the regulations. However, the EPA process will take another six to eight years.

In the meantime, there are some alternatives for consumers. Barr suggests products extracted from vegetables and herbs or planting chrysanthemums around the garden. Natural pyrethrins found in chrysanthemum plants do not persist in the environment like the synthetic versions do. Another option for killing some pests is boric acid.

Also, an insecticide called fipronil has partially replaced pyrethroids for controlling termite and ant infestations in some areas. Like pyrethroids, fipronil is far less toxic to birds and mammals than other insecticides, but can still kill small aquatic life.

Weston says switching to another chemical is not the solution: he believes people need to fundamentally change how they use pesticides. Many people apply so much to their yards and gardens that the chemicals flow into waterways.

“I think it’s a good idea to minimize pesticide exposure of any sort, not only because of what we know, but because of what we don’t know,” Weston said. “I don’t think a lot of those products are needed. The less you can use them, the better.”

This article originally ran at Environmental Health News, a news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company.

9 Comments

1. 1. wufuheng 09:00 PM 2/27/10

   good news

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. fighter67 08:07 AM 3/1/10

   chrysanthemum tea has been drunk in china for thousands of years if its so dangerous I think we would of heard by now..

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. jssarce7 02:15 PM 3/1/10

   The articles mentions correctly: "The compounds are synthetic versions of naturally occurring insecticides....." The natural form is called pyrethrum and is not so damaging or persistent in the environment. The chemist are not synthezising the same compound, they are altering it and making it more dangerous, and that's why it is called pyrethroids.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. SAK 03:47 PM 3/2/10

   Calling these "pesticides from plants" is misleading. Look up the structural formulas of pyrethroids, and you will see they have generally been synthesized on the skeleton of a natural plant product, but they so festooned with halogens (F, Cl, Br) that they look a lot more like a synthetic organic chemical than a natural product. It is no surprise they have undesirable human health characteristics, and only a pity they are called by a name that makes people think they are very similar to safer natural compounds that biodegrade very quickly. Ten minutes with any search engine can convince you that these are fundamentally not "pesticides from plants."

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. PeterROwen 07:05 PM 3/15/10

   Of course such peesticides are dangerous to humans; what a silly question. Almost everything you see is poisonous it just depends on the amount.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. bertwindon in reply to jssarce7 02:55 AM 4/2/10

   I'm no chemist, but I believe that "pyrethroids" would be the various constituents of the "Pyrethrum" produces by Chrysanths. Chemist would have sorted them out, one at a time, from the Pyrethrum from the plant.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

7. 7. bertwindon in reply to PeterROwen 02:59 AM 4/2/10

   Ah yes "pisticide" - an new way to go, which involves a snow-covered mountain, and pair of skis. Or would that be "Off-peesticide" ? - or maybe "Piss-offticide" ?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

8. 8. SAK in reply to bertwindon 02:04 PM 4/7/10

   No, the pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals, not constituents of a natural mixture.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

9. 9. SSurman 01:01 AM 6/2/10

   Chrysanthemums work very well in gardens, especially vegetable gardens for pest control. For control of grubs, fleas, ticks and mosquitos the use of nematodes sprayed on lawns and gardens is the best solution and the benefits last for approximately three months. It will not kill beneficial insects such as lady bugs that control aphids and other insects. The organic path is simple, less expensive and there is none of the runoff contaminating our waterways. We need to wake up and make an effort to stop using these toxic chemicals. I learned the hard way after being exposed to pyrethrins thinking it was a "natural" and harmless product. It is a neurtoxin. That's how it kills insects-it disrupts the nervous system. Thanks Monsanto!
   

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this