Analysis of pyrethroid pesticides, synergists and repellent in moth/mite-proofed household products and their mutagenicity

Abstract

The analytical method using GC-MS was developed to determine simultaneously eleven chemicals, such as pyrethroid pesticides (empenthrin, allethrin, tetramethrin, resmethrin, phenothrin and permethrin), synergists (1,1-oxybis (2,3,3,3-tetrachloropropane) (S-421), diethyl phtalate and piperonyl butoxide), a repellent (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)) and dibutyl phthalate, in moth/mite-proofed household products. The eleven chemicals were extracted from the mothproofing agents and covers for fabric, the moth/mite-proofing sheets and other related products by ultrasonification in acetone for 30 min. The recoveries of the 10 chemicals, except dibutyl phthalate, were found in the mite-proofed paper bag for a vacuum cleaner were 100-103% on the average. The concentration of pyrethroid pesticides which were detected in 42 brands of various household products ranged 0.46-357 mg/g for empenthrin, 0.39-11.8 mg/g for allethrin, 0.24-2.94 mg/g for tetramethrin, 0.11-110 mg/g for permethrin, and 4.47 mg/g for phenothrin, respectively. S-421 and piperonyl butoxide, synergists, ranged 0.06-37.9 mg/g, and 0.03-6.99 mg/g, respectively. The mutagenic responses of the acetone solutions extracted from the household products and S-421 standards ranged from 2.1 to 6.6 revertants (rev.)/mg and 215 rev./mg, respectively. The contribution of S-421 to the mutagenicity of the product extracts was estimated to be from 17.8 to 74.7%.