UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

JUN 12 2013 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Metofluthrin (1 09709) 

FROM: 

THRU: 

David Brassard, Senior Entomologist 

Biological Analysis Branch 

Jihad Alsadek, Ph.D., Economist 

DtwW~ 

J- v~~ /f~ Science Information and Analysis Branch 

John Faulkner, Ph.D., Economist 

Economic Analysis Branch 

Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

Arnet Jones, Chief ;2 __ ff ~ £.,.. Ar-P- :fo~, Biological Analysis Br£c"h /, 

Diann Sims, Chief ~~..-L~ 

Science Information and Analysis Branch .. 

Timothy Kiely, Chief ~ f.h ( Q 

Economic Analysis Branch v v\ D 

Biological and Economic Analysis D" ision (7503P) 

TO: Veronica Dutch, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 5 

Pesticide Reevaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Pa.nel date: March 6, 2012 

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose of this document is to convey usage information and a broad overview of the pest 

management roles of pesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The 

anticipated audience consists of the team of EPA staff currently evaluating the registration status 

of metofluthrin, and eventually the general public. This document builds upon the data already 

provided in the "Usage and Label Use Data Packages" that are also provided to Registration 

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Review teams by BEAD. The document is based on information and data available to BEAD as 

of March 6, 2012. 

Metofluthrin is a vapor-active Type I pyrethroid ester insecticide that is used as a mosquito 

repellant. Metofluthrin has a high vapor pressure and vaporizes at room temperature without 

heating. Metofluthrin is marketed as vapor emanator device which clips on to the belt of the 

(human) user and as an impregnated paper strip containing metofluthrin for use on patios, 

campsites, decks, cabanas, and other outdoor areas. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Crops 

Metofluthrin is not registered for use on any agricultural crop. 

Non-Agricultural Use Sites 

Metofluthrin is registered for use on humans (belt clip-on emanator device), domestic dwellings 

(outdoor), patios, campsites, decks, cabanas, and other outdoor areas. 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Metofluthrin is formulated as an impregnated material. Currently there are two end use products 

containing metofluthrin. The first product, Off Clip-On Mosquito Repellent® (aka Norm-1®), is 

for use on humans as a personal outdoor insect repellent emanator consisting of a holder 

containing a replaceable cartridge insert coated with metofluthrin. The product is activated by 

turning on a battery powered fan to release the metofluthrin into the air surrounding the 

individual. The device can be worn by adults or children and provides up to 12 hours of 

protection against mosquitoes. 

The second product, Deckmate®, is an impregnated paper strip containing metofluthrin for use 

on patios, campsites, decks, cabanas, and other outdoor areas. The Deckrnate Mosquito 

Repellent strips claim to repel biting mosquitoes for up to 36 hours per strip. 

USAGE 

Available usage data from Kline and CalDPR databases did not report usage for this chemical on 

any non-agricultural sites. BEAD's spot inspection of retail stores (hardware, department, 

grocery, and drug stores) in Virginia (Annandale, Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield) 

Massachusetts (Chicopee and Billerica), and Maine (Kittery and Kennebunkport) revealed that 

these products are widely marketed in these areas. 

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BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO METOFLUTHRIN 

Metofluthrin product labeling claims that these products are effective against mosquitoes that 

may carry West Nile virus, western equine encephalitis, and California viral encephalitis which 

suggests that this product may be useful in preventing mosquito vectored disease. 

There are conflicting reports of metofluthrin efficacy against mosquitoes in the literature. 

Independent testing of the Off Clip-on Mosquito Repellent® product resulted in volunteers being 

protected for only two hours, not 12 hours as specified on the label (Consumer Reports, 2010). 

Other skin applied insect repellent products tested by Consumer Reports repelled mosquitoes for 

7 or more hours. 

Other researchers found metofluthrin emanators to provide 98 to 97% reductions in mosquito 

landing/biting rates (Lucas et al, 2005; 2007). Kawada et al (2005) and Rapley et al. (2009) 

reported that metofluthrin impregnated strips were effective against mosquitoes when used 

indoors. The Registration Division considers Clip-on Mosquito Repellent devices as outdoor 

spatial repellents/air column treatments which are subject to a 90% repellency performance 

standard. Traditional skin applied mosquito repellents, in contrast, must completely protect test 

subjects for the specified period of time. EP As review of efficacy data submitted from two field 

trials concluded that metofluthrin reduced the incidence of mosquito bites by more than 90% 

over a 12 hour use period (Suarez, 2007). 

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL FOR BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON 

METOFLUTHRIN 

Obtaining additional information on the following items would improve future BEAD 

assessments of the importance of Metofluthrin and may be required as part of the registration 

review of this pesticide. BEAD lacks information regarding the usage of the two metofluthrin 

products (e.g. number of units sold annually). This information would be helpful in assessing 

what proportion oftlhe population uses these products and how frequently these products are 

applied to users (e.g. typical number of applications pre year). 

REFERENCES 

CalDPR. 2007. California Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Report 2007-6: Active 

Ingredient: Metofluthrin. 

http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/registration/ais/publicreports/5943.pdf 

Consumer Reports. 2010. Best insect repellents: Consumer Reports Test of Mosquito 

Repellents. http://www.consumerreports.org/healthlhealthy-living/beauty-personalcare/insect -repe llent/overview/index.htm 

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Kawada, H. et al. 2005. Field Evaluation of Spatial Repellency Of Metofluthrin Impregnated 

Plastic Strips Against Mosquitoes in Hai Phong City, Vietnam. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 

73(2), 2005, pp. 350-353 http://www.ajtmh.org/content/73/2/350.full.pdf+html 

Lucas, J.R. et al. 2007. U.S. laboratory and field trials of metofluthrin (SumiOne) emanators for 

reducing mosquito biting outdoors. JAm Mosq Control Assoc. 2007 Mar; 23(1):47-54. 

http://www.ncbi.nlrn.nih.gov/pubmed/17536367 

Lucas, J.R. et al, 2005. Field Efficacy of Metofluthrin - A New Mosquito Repellent. 

Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Urban Pests. 

http://www.icup.org.uk/reports%5CICUP047.pdf 

Rapley, L.P. et al. 2009. The Effects of Sustained Release Metofluthrin on the Biting, 

Movement, and Mortality of Aedes aegypti in a Domestic Setting. Am. J. Trop. Med. 

Hyg., 81(1), 2009, pp. 94-99. http://www.ajtmh.org/content/81 / l/94.full.pdf+htrnl 

Suarez, M. 2007. Efficacy Review ofNORM I Metofluthrin Insect Repellent (MRID 

46402003). 

U.S. EPA. 2006. Pesticide Fact Sheet for Metofluthrin. 

http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/factsheets/metofluthrin.pdf 

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