Abstract
α‐Cypermethrin, a highly active pyrethroid insecticide, is effective against a wide range of insects encountered in agriculture and animal husbandry. The potential genotoxicity of a commercial formulation of α‐cypermethrin (Fastac 100 EC, containing 10% α‐cypermethrin as the active ingredient) on human peripheral lymphocytes was examined in vitro by sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosomal aberrations (CAs), and micronucleus (MN) tests. The human lymphocytes were treated with 5, 10, 15, and 20 μg/ml of α‐cypermethrin for 24‐ and 48‐hr. α‐Cypermethrin induced SCEs and CAs significantly at all concentrations and treatment times and MN formation was significantly induced at 5 and 10 μg/ml of α‐cypermethrin when compared with both the control and solvent control. Binuclear cells could not be detected sufficiently in the highest two concentration of α‐cypermethrin (15 and 20 μg/ml) for both the 24‐ and 48‐hr treatment times. α‐Cypermethrin decreased the proliferation index (PI) at three high concentrations (10, 15, and 20 μg/ml) for both treatment periods as compared with the control groups. In addition, α‐cypermethrin reduced both the mitotic index (MI) and nuclear division index (NDI) significantly at all concentrations for two treatment periods. The PI and MI were reduced by α‐cypermethrin in a concentration‐dependent manner during both treatment times. In general, α‐cypermethrin showed higher cytotoxic and cytostatic effects than positive control (MMC) at the two highest concentrations for the 24‐ and 48‐hr treatment periods. The present study is the first to report the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of commercial formulation of α‐cypermethrin in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.