Editing Permethrin (section)

=== Pest control / effectiveness and persistence ===
In agriculture, permethrin is mainly used on cotton, wheat, [[maize]], and alfalfa crops. Its use is controversial because, as a [[broad-spectrum]] chemical, it kills indiscriminately; as well as the intended pests, it can harm beneficial insects, including [[honey bee]]s, as well as cats and aquatic life.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ian RH | title = Aquatic organisms and pyrethroids | year = 1989 | journal = [[Pesticide Science]] | volume = 27 | issue = 4 | pages = 429–457 | doi = 10.1002/ps.2780270408}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Drago B, Shah NS, Shah SH | title = Acute permethrin neurotoxicity: Variable presentations, high index of suspicion | journal = Toxicology Reports | volume = 1 | pages = 1026–1028 | date = 2014 | pmid = 28962315 | pmc = 5598406 | doi = 10.1016/j.toxrep.2014.09.007 | bibcode = 2014ToxR....1.1026D }}</ref>

Permethrin kills ticks and mosquitoes on contact with treated clothing. A method of reducing deer tick populations by treating rodent vectors involves stuffing biodegradable cardboard tubes with permethrin-treated cotton. Mice collect the cotton for lining their nests. Permethrin on the cotton kills any immature ticks feeding on the mice.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Permethrin is used in tropical areas to prevent mosquito-borne disease such as [[dengue fever]] and [[malaria]]. Mosquito nets used to cover beds may be treated with a solution of permethrin. This increases the effectiveness of the bed net by killing parasitic insects before they are able to find gaps or holes in the net. Personnel working in malaria-endemic areas may be instructed to treat their clothing with permethrin as well.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Permethrin is the most commonly used insecticide worldwide for the protection of wool from keratinophagous insects such as ''[[Tineola bisselliella]]''.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ingham PE, McNeil SJ, Sunderland MR | year = 2012 | title = Functional finishes for wool – Eco considerations | journal = Advanced Materials Research | volume = 441 | pages = 33–43 | doi = 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.441.33| s2cid = 136607213 }}</ref>

To better protect soldiers from the risk and annoyance of biting insects, the British<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Black_Bag_A5_booklet.pdf | work = Personal Clothing – British Army Website | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923185556/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Black_Bag_A5_booklet.pdf | archive-date=23 September 2015 | title = What's in the Black Bag? | access-date = 14 October 2015 }}</ref> and US armies are treating all new uniforms with permethrin.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.army.mil/article/88171/Army_s_new_ACUs_combat_insect_borne_diseases/ | title = Insect-repelling ACUs now available to all Soldiers | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213322/http://www.army.mil/article/88171/Army_s_new_ACUs_combat_insect_borne_diseases/ | archive-date = 4 October 2013| work = Canadian and United States Army | url-status = live | date = October 2012 }}</ref>

Permethrin (as well as other long-term pyrethroids) is effective over several months, in particular when used indoors. International studies report that permethrin can be detected in house dust, in fine dust, and on indoor surfaces even years after the application. Its degradation rate under indoor conditions is approximately 10% after 3 months.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Nakagawa LE, do Nascimento CM, Costa AR, Polatto R, Papini S | title = Persistence of indoor permethrin and estimation of dermal and non-dietary exposure | journal = Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology | volume = 30 | issue = 3 | pages = 547–553 | date = May 2020 | pmid = 30926895 | doi = 10.1038/s41370-019-0132-7 | bibcode = 2020JESEE..30..547N | s2cid = 85566713 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Berger-Preiess E, Preiess A, Sielaff K, Raabe M, Ilgen B, Levsen K |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0668.1997.00004.x|title=The Behaviour of Pyrethroids Indoors: A Model Study|year=1997 |journal=Indoor Air|volume=7|issue=4|pages=248–262|bibcode=1997InAir...7..248B |doi-access=free}}</ref>