Cockroaches, mosquitoes, ticks and bugs - all these harmful insects can significantly complicate life and cause many problems. A huge number of chemicals have been developed to control pests. Some contain the active substance cypermethrin. But is it possible to use such drugs without fear for the health of loved ones? It is necessary to understand what is cypermethrin, and how it is able to affect human health.
"Cypermethrin": the effect on humans of a universal insect repellent
The appearance of annoying insects in residential premises not only gives residents a lot of inconvenience, but also carries a potential health threat. Bed bugs and mosquitoes do not give the opportunity to sleep, their bites are quite itchy and can cause allergies. Ticks and cockroaches are distributors of dangerous diseases.
Getting rid of such “neighbors” can be very difficult. For these purposes, special insecticidal preparations are often used . The composition of insecticides includes active substances that kill insects, as well as auxiliary components designed to mask unpleasant odors, and used to achieve the necessary consistency. Insecticides, which include cypermethrin, are now quite common. The effect on humans of this component is assigned to the third hazard class.
Principles for choosing a pest control product
When choosing means for the extermination of harmful insects, you need to take into account your own requirements and some other points:
- The effectiveness of the drug. It depends on whether the tool can cope with the task.
- Duration of action. Indicates the speed of disappearance of parasites and the duration of the use of the drug for prophylactic purposes.
- Principles of application. Everyone chooses the tool that is most convenient for use.
- Features of the life of insects. For example, bed bugs lead a special lifestyle, and many drugs do not have the proper effect on them.
- Availability of processed household items. When processing residential premises, tools that work directly on objects are suitable; in non-residential premises, traps and baits can be set.
- Odor resistance. It is not necessary to choose acutely smelling and poorly weathered preparations.
- Safety for humans and pets, if any.
If the drug is planned to be used in open space for a short time, you should choose low concentrated repellents, if necessary, the treatment can be repeated. Only licensed insect repellent preparations should be used, on which the registration number and the organization issuing it must be indicated; active component and its concentration; the possibility of applying directly to humans.
All requirements are met by means in which the active components are cypermethrin and permethrin, the impact on human health of which is minimal.
Cypermethrin - a universal insecticide
Cypermethrin - a substance from the group of pyrethroids of the third generation, can be produced in various forms:
- concentrated emulsions containing 5-25% of the active substance;
- powders to be moistened or dissolved;
- tableted drugs.
Properties of Cypermethrin
Cypermethrin looks like a viscous clear liquid from light yellow to brown in color, with a faint specific smell. The substance consists of eight types of isomers. Some effectively destroy flying insects, others crawl. The advantages of Cypermethrin include resistance to ultraviolet rays and acidic environment. In addition, the substance is easily neutralized with alkaline solutions.
How Cypermethrin Affects Insects
Third generation repellent "Cypermethrin" is an insecticidal-acaricidal agent that affects the nervous system of insects and larvae. The drug is not capable of damaging eggs laid.
Activity retains for 30 days from the date of application. However, the substance has the highest efficiency within 24 hours. According to observations, addiction to the drug was not detected.
Drug toxicity
The toxicity of the drug Cypermethrin, the effect on humans and warm-blooded ones is determined by the method of contacting, is classified as follows:
- Solutions of 0.1% concentration in the form of a spray having acute biocidal property are referred to the second class of highly hazardous. Such drugs are not allowed to be used in hospitals, preschool and school institutions, sanatoriums, on recreation centers, in public catering establishments and premises;
- The third class of moderately hazardous include those drugs with subacute biocidal action. It can be used in any premises with strict observance of the rules of use: compliance with acceptable consumption standards, ventilation of rooms and wet cleaning with alkali after treatment, absence of people and animals in the room at the time of disinfection.
- Grade 4 low hazard provides for the application of the drug to skin or clothing. Unrestricted use allowed. If the product is applied to the skin repeatedly, a slight irritation is possible.
Drug use
Cypermethrin, the instructions for use of which involves preparing a solution of the required concentration, is used against synanthropic insects: cockroaches, flies, fleas, bed bugs, ants and mosquitoes in technical rooms, in apartments and houses (except for rooms for sleeping and games for children), hospitals and sanatoriums (except for wards for patients), in public catering establishments. It is also possible to use in natural conditions: open reservoirs, sanatorium green areas, playgrounds for combating mosquitoes, ixoid ticks and fleas.
"Cypermethrin": instructions for use against mosquitoes
To combat mosquitoes, a 0.01% solution is prepared, which is used to treat mosquitoes in the house, building facades and internal walls of garbage containers - shelters for bloodsuckers in hot weather.
To destroy mosquito larvae, in the places of their breeding (cellars and closed reservoirs) periodically, not more than once a month, they are treated with a solution at the rate of 25 ml per m 2 of surface or water surface.
"Cypermethrin": instructions for use against cockroaches
An aqueous emulsion is prepared with a concentration of 0.1% and applied to interior items in places where pests accumulate and on the way they move to moisture and food: thresholds, crevices along door frames, baseboards, zones around them and all inaccessible places.
The amount of the drug is calculated based on the calculation:
- when applied to plastic, glass and ceramic planes - 50 ml per m 2 ;
- when applied to plywood, wood, concrete and other surfaces capable of absorbing liquid - 100 ml per m 2 .
All rooms where cockroach movements are detected are processed simultaneously. Regularly remove and destroy euthanized and immobilized pests.
"Cypermethrin" from bedbugs: instructions for use
Use an aqueous solution of the drug with an active substance concentration of 0.01%. Cleavages on walls and interior items, beds, sofas, crevices of plinths are processed. The consumption of the substance is 50 ml per m 2 in the territory of at least 30 m 2 . Spraying is carried out at a temperature not lower than ten degrees. After fifteen minutes, the room must be ventilated for half an hour and washed surfaces using soapy soda solution.
It is forbidden to apply the drug on bedding.
"Cypermethrin": instructions for use against ticks
The territory is pre-cleaned of grass and needles - places of accumulation of blood-sucking insects. Cultivated areas should be closed with a fence with a diameter of 50-100 meters and visitors should not be allowed during the week. It is necessary to take into account weather conditions, because rains reduce the effectiveness of the drug.
The tool remains effective for 30-45 days, depending on the weather. Re-processing is carried out as insects occur.
Human exposure
With frequent contact with the drug “Cypermethrin,” the effect on human health can be expressed by nausea, headache, muscle weakness, salivation, shortness of breath and cramps. The substance breaks down in the body into carboxylic acid molecules and is excreted in the urine. Health monitoring is carried out by measuring the level of metabolites in the urine. Quantitative indicators of the active substance in blood or plasma indicate intoxication.
What to do in case of poisoning
As a result of a violation of the precautionary measures or an accident, contact with the drug may result in acute poisoning, which is expressed by the presence of an unpleasant taste in the oral cavity, weakness, vomiting, headache and nausea, which intensifies during smoking or eating, pain in the abdomen, irritation respiratory tract, profuse salivation in the form of foam.
What to do with acute poisoning? What does Cypermethrin have on humans? The antidote should be taken immediately:
- If the product got into the lungs, inhaling the vapors, you need to take the victim out onto the street, remove contaminated things from him, let his mouth and nose rinse with soda solution and drink one or two glasses of adsorbent (3 tablespoons of polysorb or activated charcoal - 10-12 pieces per glass )
- Accidentally swallowing the drug, you need to immediately drink one or two glasses of water with an adsorbent. If the victim has lost consciousness, he should not introduce foreign objects into his mouth and induce vomiting.
- The product got on the mucous membrane of the eyes. It is necessary to rinse with soda solution for several minutes and drip with a solution of sodium sulfacyl (for example, albucid).
- If it enters the skin, drops of the substance must be carefully removed with a cotton pad or rags and washed with soapy water.
- After first aid, the victim must be sent to the hospital.
Danger to children
The safety of the drug Cypermethrin, whose influence on the person was considered minimal, was refuted by French scientists who proved that the drug negatively affects the development of young children. This is manifested in the slowdown of the brain, memory impairment and the ability to perceive and absorb words.
What research shows scientists
Researchers believe that children suffer more than adults, due to the fact that they are more often and longer on the floor and study objects that fall into their hands, taste. This makes babies more vulnerable to pyrethroid drugs that enter the body through the skin and the gastrointestinal tract.
Harmfulness for children of the substance cypermethrin, the effect on the person of which is negative, was proved by studies of the urine of children who participated in the experiment. It revealed metabolites of insecticides used in everyday life. In those cases when the concentration of decay products of toxic substances was the highest (although modern toxicologists consider this a low indicator), children had impaired speech perception.
However, scientists have not identified a specific relationship between insect preparations and brain development in children under the age of six. They cannot determine exactly how poisons affect the body.
Experts also have data on the effect of toxic substances contained in repellents on sperm activity and the development of leukemia in infants.
To avoid undesirable consequences, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions and, if possible, not be present during the bullying of insects in the treated premises. After treatments, everything must be thoroughly washed with an alkaline solution, especially places accessible to small children.