Editing Permethrin (section)

== Adverse effects ==
Permethrin is moderately toxic if ingested, causing abdominal pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting. If inhaled, permethrin may cause headache, respiratory irritation, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Inhalation is more likely from aerosols than from vapors from surfaces and clothing, as permethrin has a low [[vapor pressure]] and volatilizes slowly.<ref name="npic">{{cite web |title=Permethrin |url=http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/Permtech.html |publisher=National Pesticide Information Center |access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>

Topical application of permethrin can cause mild skin irritation, burning and [[paresthesia]].<ref name="npic"/> Permethrin has little systemic absorption, and is considered safe for topical use in adults and children over the age of two months. The FDA has assigned it as [[pregnancy category]] B. Animal studies have suggested that it may cause endocrine disruption by interfering with estrogenic activity<ref name="npic"/> and have shown no effects on fertility or [[Teratology|teratogenicity]], but studies in humans have not been performed. The excretion of permethrin in breastmilk is unknown, and it is recommended that breastfeeding be temporarily discontinued during treatment.<ref name="Package Label" /> Skin reactions are uncommon.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dph.state.ct.us/BCH/infectiousdise/tickborne/tick.htm#Permethrin | title = Tick Bite Prevention | vauthors = Stafford III KC | date = February 1999 | publisher = Connecticut Department of Public Health | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050912070432/http://www.dph.state.ct.us/BCH/infectiousdise/tickborne/tick.htm#Permethrin | archive-date = 12 September 2005}}</ref>
Excessive exposure to permethrin can cause [[nausea]], headache, muscle weakness, excessive [[salivation]], shortness of breath, and [[seizure]]s. Worker exposure to the chemical can be monitored by measurement of the [[urinary]] [[metabolite]]s, while severe [[Drug overdose|overdose]] may be confirmed by measurement of permethrin in [[Blood serum|serum]] or [[blood plasma]].<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Baselt R | title = Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man | edition = 8th | publisher = Biomedical Publications | location = Foster City, CA | date = 2008 | pages = 1215–1216 }}</ref>

Permethrin does not present any notable [[genotoxicity]] or [[immunotoxicity]] in humans and farm animals, but is classified by the EPA as a likely human [[carcinogen]] when ingested, based on reproducible studies in which mice fed permethrin developed liver and lung [[tumor]]s.<ref>{{cite report | title = Permethrin Facts | url = https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P1005J0O.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=2006%20Thru%202010&Docs=&Query=Permethrin&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=2&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEX%20DATA%5C06THRU10%5CTXT%5C00000012%5CP1005J0O.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h%7C-&MaximumDocuments=15&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r85g16/r85g16/x150y150g16/i500&Display=hpfr&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x | work = National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) | publisher = U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | date = June 2006 | access-date = 24 March 2023 | archive-date = 24 March 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230324192313/https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P1005J0O.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=2006%20Thru%202010&Docs=&Query=Permethrin&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=2&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEX%20DATA%5C06THRU10%5CTXT%5C00000012%5CP1005J0O.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h%7C-&MaximumDocuments=15&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r85g16%2Fr85g16%2Fx150y150g16%2Fi500&Display=hpfr&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x | url-status = live }}</ref> A 2018 review failed to link permethrin exposure in humans to cancer.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Boffetta P, Desai V | title = Exposure to permethrin and cancer risk: a systematic review | journal = Critical Reviews in Toxicology | volume = 48 | issue = 6 | pages = 433–442 | date = July 2018 | pmid = 29687728 | doi = 10.1080/10408444.2018.1439449 | s2cid = 26073529 }}</ref>