Toxicity, microbial degradation and analytical detection of pyrethroids: A review

• Main Authors: Musa Galadima, Simranjeet Singh, Akshay Pawar, Sutripto Khasnabis, Daljeet Singh Dhanjal, Amith G Anil, Pratistha Rai, Praveen C. Ramamurthy, Joginder Singh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-10-01
• Series: Environmental Advances
• Subjects: Pyrethroids; Toxicity; Analytical techniques; Biodegradation; Mathematical modeling; Kinetics
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765721000764

Pyrethroid pesticides are synthetic products derived from natural pyrethrins isolated from the flowers. It has extensive applications in horticulture, agriculture, and pest control. Pyrethroids are a highly toxic and expeditious insecticide exhibiting tremor-type syndrome, allergic reactions, and ataxia. Regular use of synthetic pyrethroids affects a helpful microbial community and reduces soil fertility. Due to environmental concerns linked with the accumulation of pyrethroids pesticides in groundwater and food products, there is an urgent need to develop rapid, economical and reliable methods amenable to on-site applications. Here, we review recently developed analytical techniques used for estimating pyrethroids and their metabolites, focusing on their removal from environmental specimens, mechanisms, and kinetics. Biodegradation offers an efficient option to mineralize pyrethroid pesticides either into less toxic compounds or useful by-products. Herein we investigate more on their biodegradability by native microbial species by exploring the genes involved in the degradation of pyrethroid pesticides and assessing the mathematical modeling for pyrethroid degradation. We discuss toxicological effects, environmental issues, analytical techniques for estimation, and approaches for efficient biodegradation, which will offer an alternative and affordable option to get noxious pesticides.