General Information:

Cypermethrin is a broad-spectrum insecticide. It has a low aqueous solubility and is volatile. Whilst its chemical properties suggest that it should not leach to groundwater it has been detected. It is considered a serious marine pollutant. It is moderately persistent is soils but is likely to degrade moderately fast in water systems under daylight conditions. It is moderately toxic to mammals and there is some concern regarding its potential to bioaccumulate. Whilst it is an irritant, no serious human health issues have been identified. It is highly toxic to most aquatic species and honeybees. It is moderately toxic to earthworms but there is little risk to birds. Cypermethrin is a chiral molecule. The technical material consists of eight isomers, four cis and four trans.

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.