For definition of Groups, see Preamble Evaluation.
VOL.: 53 (1991) (p. 309)
Fenvalerate
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Fenvalerate b
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Esfenvalerate
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Fenvalerate is a highly active contact insecticide. It has been used since 1976, mostly in agriculture but also in public health programmes, in homes and gardens and on cattle, alone or in combination with other insecticides. It has been formulated as concentrates, dusts and wettable powders.
Exposure to fenvalerate can occur during its production and application and, at much lower levels, from consumption of foods containing residues.
No data were available to the Working Group.
Fenvalerate was tested for carcinogenicity in two experiments in mice and in two experiments in rats by oral administration. There was no increase in the incidence of tumours in mice. In rats, there was an increased incidence of benign mammary tumours in females in one study. In another study at a higher dose, no increase in tumour incidence was seen in animals of either sex.
In one study, fenvalerate increased the frequency of enzyme-positive foci in rat liver.
Administration of fenvalerate to mice in vivo induced chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus in bone marrow and morphological abnormalities in sperm. Induction of chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchange was observed in cultured human cells, and aneuploidy was seen in insects. Fenvalerate inhibited gap-junctional intercellular communication in cultured mammalian cells. It did not induce mutation in insects or bacteria.
No data were available from studies in humans.
There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity of fenvalerate in experimental animals.
Overall evaluation
Fenvalerate is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).
For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.
Last updated: 20 November 1997
See Also:
Toxicological Abbreviations
Fenvalerate (EHC 95, 1990)
Fenvalerate (HSG 34, 1989)
Fenvalerate (Pesticide residues in food: 1979 evaluations)
Fenvalerate (Pesticide residues in food: 1981 evaluations)
Fenvalerate (Pesticide residues in food: 1984 evaluations)
Fenvalerate (Pesticide residues in food: 1984 evaluations)
Fenvalerate (UKPID)