Permethrin is a contact insecticide. It is not highly soluble in water, has a low volatility and is not normally expected to leach to groundwater. It would also not be expected to persist in soil or water systems. It is moderately toxic to humans, is an irritant and may be a CNS toxicant. It is highly toxic to most aquatic species and honey bees but is not highly toxic to birds or earthworms.
Data alerts
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate
Ecotoxicity
Human health
Environmental fate Moderate alert: Moderately persistent; Potential for particle bound transport: Medium
Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute oral ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Carcinogen; Endocrine distrupter; Reproduction/development effects; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
Used to control ectoparasites on domestic pets and other animals
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
circa 1973
Examples of species treated
Cats, Dogs
Chemical structure
Isomerism
Permethrin is a chiral molecule presenting two forms, the cis and the trans isomers.
UK statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life: freshwater and saltwater: 0.01 µg l⁻¹
Physical state
Colourless crystalline solid to brown viscous liquid depending upon purity
Formulations
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
UK Legal Class
Example products using this active
Armatage Pet Care Felt Flea Collar
Sinclair Animal & Household Care Ltd
UK National authorisation
Authorised veterinary medicine for general sale (AVM - GSL)
Beaphar Soft Cat Flea Collar
Sinclair Animal and Household Care Ltd
UK National authorisation
Authorised veterinary medicine for general sale (AVM - GSL)
Defendog Cutaneous Spray
Virbac S.A.
UK National authorisation
Authorised veterinary medicine for general sale (AVM - GSL)
Advantix Spot-on solution for dogs over 10 up to 25kg
Bayer Ltd
EU Mutually recognised procedure
Prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V)
Formulation and application details
Available in a variety of formulations including fumigants, shampoos and spot-on treatments
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
0.2
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
1000000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Hexane
-
258000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Methanol
-
1000000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Xylene
-
Melting point (°C)
34.5
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
200
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
100
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
1.26 X 1006
Calculated
-
Log P
6.1
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data
High
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
Soluble
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
-
Data type
Observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.29
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
-
-
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
0.007
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
at 25°C
Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
1.89 X 10-01
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Moderately volatile
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
-
-
-
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
-
-
-
Refractive Index
-
-
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
13
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
13
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
42
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Moderately persistent
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
Note
-
Manure DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
1
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Moderately fast
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
31
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Moderately persistent
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
40
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Moderately fast
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
23
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Slow
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
-
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-mobile
Koc
100000
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf
1.87
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242