Piretroides y mortalidad

Insecticide Exposure Tied to Increased Mortality

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM

Greater exposure to pyrethroid insecticides is associated with increased mortality risk, suggests a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Pyrethroids are commonly used for agricultural and residential pest control; they're also found in pet sprays, lice treatments, and mosquito repellants.

Over 2100 U.S. adults had urine samples assessed for 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a pyrethroid metabolite, and then were followed for roughly 14 years. During that time, 11.9% of participants in the highest tertile of 3-PBA level died, versus 10.2% in the middle tertile and 8.5% in the lowest.

After multivariable adjustment, adults in the highest tertile of 3-PBA had significantly increased risks for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, relative to those in the lowest tertile.

Commentators urge caution when interpreting the findings, but they say the "results ... warrant immediate further investigation, especially because pyrethroids have long been considered of minimal hazard to humans and play a vital role in public health control of vector-borne illnesses."

JAMA Internal Medicine article (Free abstract)

JAMA Internal Medicine commentary (Subscription required)

Background: NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine coverage of pyrethroids for head lice (Your NEJM Journal Watch registration required)

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

Clinica Victoria en San Pedro: 4000-1054
Momentum Escazu: 2101-9574

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