The Ecological and Evolutionary
Implications of Pyrethroid Exposure:
A New Perspective on Aquatic Ecotoxicity
Kaley M. Major and Susanne M. Brander
Contents
1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
2 Acute Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
3 Sublethal Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
4 Resistance to Pyrethroid Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
4.1 Resistance in Target Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
4.2 Resistance in Nontarget Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
4.3 Implications of Pyrethroid Resistance in the Aquatic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
5 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Abstract Pyrethroids are one of the most heavily used insecticide classes globally
because they have low mammalian toxicity. However, they are highly toxic to
arthropods. Pyrethroids are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment as a result of
urban (landscaping, structural pest control, home, and garden) and agricultural
runoff and spray drift, often at levels that exceed water quality benchmarks
established for the protection of aquatic life. Pyrethroids also enter the aquatic
compartment through direct application to treat crustacean parasites in commercial
fisheries. Here, we briefly review the acute and sublethal toxicities of pyrethroids
with a focus on aquatic invertebrates. Our primary focus is on evidence of the
evolution of adaptive pyrethroid resistance in aquatic invertebrates (sea lice
(Lepeophtheirus salmonis), mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae and A. coluzzi) black
flies (Simulium spp.), and amphipods (Hyalella azteca)) driven by target and nontarget applications of pyrethroids in the aquatic environment. We explore the human
health, evolutionary, ecological, and risk assessment implications of the evolution of
K. M. Major (*) and S. M. Brander
Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis,
OR, USA
e-mail: kaley.major@gmail.com; susanne.brander@oregonstate.edu
Ethel Eljarrat (ed.), Pyrethroid Insecticides,
Hdb Env Chem (2020) 92: 109–148, DOI 10.1007/698_2019_432,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020, Published online: 14 March 2020
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