Risk and Benefits of Resmethrin

Chemistry 11

Ms.Pilon

McKenzie Reeleder

Background Information

• First registered 1967 in the United States• Included in the chemical group Pryethoids• Insecticide made from Chrysanthemums• Colorless – Yellowish brown• Made in laboratory testing • Used for mosquito's pesticide, lice treatment• By products include over 200 sprays, aerosols and

concentrated liquids all used for insecticide purposes

Risks

• When ingested has a 10^-6 chance of causing lung cancer

• Ecological risks mostly include freshwater fish• Although due to the low solubility it isn’t very risky• When apply for lice removal can cause irritation of the

skin

Benefits

• Very good treatment for lice ( 2-4 weeks full removal)• Bug extermination ( mostly mosquitoes ) • Bug sprays that don’t have any carcinogenic

Alternatives

• Resmethrin really is the alternative• In the chemical group pyrethoids it is in the first

generation making it much less toxic but much less effective

• Some safety precautions you could take would be to wear gloves and masks to lower the chances of the skin irritation and lung cancer