Exposure to permethrin used as a home insecticide: A case study comparing model predictions and excretion of metabolites

•Consumer exposure to permethrin via the use of home insecticide spray was assessed.•Biomonitoring and mathematical modeling were conducted for 27 consumers.•The levels of metabolites increased significantly with the application of home insecticides.•The total amount of excreted metabolites was lower than estimated by the exposure model. Pyrethroids have been widely used as an active ingredient in home insecticide products since the 1960 s. Although their occurrence in indoor environments has been studied, the contribution of home insecticide application to the aggregate exposure to pyrethroids is not well known. The objective of this study was to estimate the consumer exposure to permethrin, a representative pyrethroid, via the use of home insecticide spray during the summer season using biomonitoring and personal exposure modeling. Exposure to permethrin was assessed by analyzing its urinary metabolites, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) and cis/trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropan carboxylic acid (cis/trans-DCCA), for a group of consumers (n = 27). The levels of metabolites were also compared with those predicted by a screening exposure model considering personal exposure parameters. The levels of metabolites in 15 participants increased significantly (p