Metabolic chemistry of pyrethroid insecticides

This review of studies on 20 pyrethroids with nine different acid moieties and ten different alcohol moieties reveals a diversity of functional groups undergoing metabolism in mammals, insects, other organisms, and microsomal esterase and oxidase systems. Seventy‐nine metabolites are identified from the cis‐isomer of permethrin and transpermethrin but fewer from other pyrethroids examined in less detail. The sites and rates of metabolic attack on each pyrethroid depend on the organism or system. Metabolism of pyrethoids by esterase and oxidase action usually limits their toxicity to mammals more than to insects, thereby conferring useful selective toxicity properties.