Bifenthrin is a pesticide that has commercial use for fire ants. Fire ants are a health and safety concern in many southern states of the U.S and there are over 200 species of fire ants spread out around the world. There venom is toxic and their bites can lead to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis in some people and animals. (1)
In the U.S., bifenthrin use is strictly labeled for the eradication of fire ants. As far as I know, there is no other use of it that is on label here in the US but is used extensively for agricultural use in other countries. In the past, the use of the chemical has been associated with the development of neurological disease and symptoms of anxiety. However, the mechanism of how it acts on the brain was not known. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that rats exhibited anxiety after 60 of treatment with the chemical. In addition, it was discovered that these rats had extensive oxidation of lipids in two centers of the brain. Also, there was a decrease in glutathione and anti-oxidant activity and increased levels of oxidative stress and Tnf-a and reduced Nrf2. This is an important study in that it demonstrates how pesticides act on areas of the brain to cause neuroinflammation through activities of Nrf2/NF-kb pathway to promote anxiety. (2)
Wipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifenthrin
Inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms potentiate bifenthrin-induced neurological alterations and anxiety-like behavior in adult rats. Toxicology letters, Vol. 294 (15 September 2018), pp. 73-86 by Brahim Gargouri, Harsharan S. Bhatia, Michèle Bouchard, Bernd L. Fiebich, Hamadi Fetoui http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/14622148
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