General Information:

Permethrin is a contact insecticide. It is not highly soluble in water, has a low volatility and is not normally expected to leach to groundwater. It would also not be expected to persist in soil or water systems. It is moderately toxic to humans, is an irritant and may be a CNS toxicant. It is highly toxic to most aquatic species and honey bees but is not highly toxic to birds or earthworms. Permethrin is a chiral molecule presenting two forms, the cis and the trans isomers.

EPA/USP Method

USP Method 561: Determination of pesticides in articles of botanical origin by gas chromatography. Many botanicals are treated as dietary supplements and are subject to statutory provisions that govern foods, EPA Method EPA Method 1660 is applicable to the determination of pyrethrins and pyrethroids in municipal and industrial wastewater by extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultra-violet detector (UV). Separation and measurement of the pyrethrins and pyrethroids is performed by reverse-phase Cl8 column HPLC with a multiple-wavelength UV detector.