It is a biological agent that has tox, but is less toxic than chemical agents. At the most any of the agents should be applied sparingly near mosquito nests and not applied to large populations. None of these agents should be used near children. Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, is a neurotoxin. Symptoms include tremors, uncoordination, elevated body temperature, increased aggressive behavior, and disruption of learning.
Laboratory tests suggest that permethrin is more acutely toxic to children than to adults.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified permethrin as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors in female mice and liver tumors in mice of both sexes. Permethrin inhibits the activity of the immune system in laboratory tests, and also binds to the receptors for a male sex hormone. It causes chromosome aberrations in human and hamster cells. Effects on Reproduction Permethrin affects both male and female reproductive systems. It binds to receptors for androgen, a male sex hormone, in skin cells from human males, causing researchers to advise protection from any form of contact or ingestion of the pyrethroids.