#pyrethroids — Public Fediverse posts

Immersion in a hot toxic soup

From humans, wildlife and invertebrates: Simultaneous exposure of toxins and climate harms likely to cause reduced fertility

An " ‘alarming’ effect on fertility across global species from simultaneous exposures."

"The chemicals are ubiquitous in consumer goods, so humans are often regularly exposed."

“There is enough evidence in both areas to act to reduce our impact on the planet...The solution to the systemic problems would involve reining in climate change and reducing the use of toxic chemicals." >>

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/26/toxic-exposure-climate-crisis-study
#biodiversity #immersion #FossilFuels #ClimateCrisis #toxins #plastic #ForeverChemicals #pollution #WesternCountries #harm #ToxicChemicals #Pfas #organochlorines #pyrethroids #Phthalates #ConsumerGoods #ClimateHarms #habitability #HealthHazards

If you own a Thermacell I highly recommend capping the cartridge after every use so that the pyrethroid (metofluthrin) doesn't evaporate. If you've already discarded the cap just use plastic wrap. Replacement cartridges are over $20 each. Also, if you're the forgetful type set a phone timer so that you're reminded to turn the contraption off after dinner. #thermacell #mosquitoes #pyrethroids #repellents

But nice lawns and golf courses and unblemished flower gardens are so important. We can't possibly give up routine use of #pesticides.

Yet it's clear that even "benign" pesticides, like #pyrethroids, have adverse impacts. Even if they are harmless to people and pets, they have serious adverse consequences. So much of nature's food chain relies on insects - as pollinators, as food for birds and fish, as natural pest control (lady bugs in the garden as an example)

And the joy of seeing butterflies brings smiles to many peoples faces (certainly mine).

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/01/monarch-butterflies-mass-die-off-pesticides?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

#insectageddon #ecosysytems #foodchain

Resharing this webpage because I changed the cover pic. That's my fence! #mosquitoes #pesticides #pyrethroids https://colinpurrington.com/2018/09/buzz-on-mosquito-sprays/

Wishing a long and miserable purgatory for owners of companies that install pesticide misting systems in the United States. And ideally large fines in their current lives for falsely advertising that insecticides dispensed at dusk and dawn (or at night) don't kill non-target insects such as butterflies and bees. I think only Connecticut and Illinois have banned misters outright, but New York seems to have verbiage that effectively does the same. #pollinators #butterflies #bees #pesticides #ftc #insects #pyrethroids #mosquitoes

Stumbled onto a comment on reddit that serves as a good reminder that pyrethroid mosquito sprays (Mosquito Shield, Mosquito Joe, Mosquito Squad, etc.) are highly toxic to fish. Labels always say "never spray near water" but applicators often ignore. #fish #mosquitoes #pyrethroids #virginia #pesticides #insecticides #ponds #koi

I've always had my suspicions but Michael Moorhouse, the president of Mosquito Shield, confirms: mother-owned franchises do extra well because women can infiltrate "mom groups" on Facebook and then push members to get their yards sprayed. #mosquitoes #pesticides #pyrethroids #insects https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cJLUlPdt2qY?t=24&feature=share

In going through the meeting notes for the Maine Bureau of Pesticides Control, it's clear that state has had it with Mosquito Shield and similar outfits that regularly flaunt pesticide application laws. E.g., technicians spray when it's raining or windy, treat flowering plants, treat bodies of water, or fail to wear protective gear. Bureau accepts and acts on tips from homeowners (see link). NB: photo proof helps agency's legal team issue fines. And don't forget to collect plant samples from your yard for residue tests if you think pesticide fog has drifted onto your property. #maine #mosquitoes #pesticides #pyrethroids https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/public/complaints.shtml

Delivered a Zoom talk on mosquito control to 90+ people on Georgetown Island, Maine, last night. The area is being invaded by Mosquito Shield and other pyrethroid-spraying franchises and residents are worried about the consequences for insects, birds, ... and lobsters. Was fun to research. #maine #mosquitoes #pyrethroids

Anyone have good stories about mosquito-spraying companies like Mosquito Shield? I'm giving a talk tomorrow on the topic and would enjoy hearing your thoughts and experiences. #mosquitoes #pyrethroids #garlic #pesticide

It starts. One of my neighbors is having his yard dosed with pyrethroids as I type. Guy from hired company (Mosquito Shield) is walking around with a gas-powered sprayer, killing everything on the ground and in the trees. And, indirectly, reducing what local birds have to eat. Why is this legal #mosquitoes #pesticides #pyrethroids #insects #birds

Every borough, town, and city should have a webpage that discourages residents from subscribing to those frequent (every 2-3 week) insecticide applications from companies like Mosquito Shield, Mosquito Joe, and Mosquito Squad. As an example, here's the blurb from Media, Pennsylvania, the town next to me. #mosquito #mosquitoes #spraying #pollinators #insects #pesticides #government #mediapa #delco #pennsylvania #pyrethroids https://www.mediaborough.com/446/Mosquito-Spray-Drift

Fourth, resist the urge to nuke your yard with pesticides. While pyrethroids might reduce the ground-level mosquitoes for a few days, you'll be killing off mosquito predators (e.g., spiders), innocent pollinators, and much, much more. Seriously, just don't. 4/n #pyrethroids #pesticides #mosquitoes #neurotoxins https://colinpurrington.com/2018/09/buzz-on-mosquito-sprays/

Grrr. Mosquito Shield just finished treating my neighbor's yard with pyrethroids, which means all sorts of innocent insects along our shared property line are now dead or twitching. Even watched the guy spray flowers. Wish we could ban this practice. #pesticide #insects #pollinators #pyrethroids #mosquitoes

RANT: Drives me nuts when pesticide companies and government agencies tell the public that their ultra-low volume (ULV) pesticide applications "target" mosquitoes, magically sparing other insects such as butterflies and fireflies. The reality is that the tiny droplets of pesticides are not laser-guided and thus will land on *all* the insects in an area. And the organophosphates and pyrethroids used in ULV sprays are broadly toxic to arthropods. Linked article is just one example of what actually happens. #pesticide #mosquitoes #pyrethroids #insects #butterflies #monarch #lepidoptera #pollinators https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19432072/

Article on ecological effects of spraying pyrethroids to control mosquitoes, with a focus on etofenprox use in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. I'm quoted. #mosquitoes #pollinators #WestNile #insects #disease #biodiversity #pesticides #nature #pyrethroids #pittsburgh #pennsylvania https://www.publicsource.org/mosquito-spraying-disease-west-nile-insects-ecosystem-environment-conservation-allegheny-county-pittsburgh/

Quick tip for Thermacell owners: replace the repellent cap after every use so that you don't lose fluid from evaporation. Refill cartridges (active ingredient: metofluthrin) are insanely expensive. Doing this will also remind you to turn the device off. #mosquitoes #pesticide #repellent #thermacell #pyrethroids

Today's New York Times has a short article on ways to kill mosquitoes without insecticides. E.g., set out "buckets of doom" that use mosquito-specific Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. But please ignore the idiotic paragraph that suggests pesticide-spraying companies know how to minimize death of non-target arthropods. #mosquitoes #bacteria #insects #nature #pyrethroids #pesticides #chemicals https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/03/climate/ask-nyt-bug-control.html?unlocked_article_code=1.y00.ROoh.Brop6zsWNVoU&smid=url-share

Whenever I get ads from mosquito-spraying companies I'm amazed that they are not required by law to say what, exactly, is being applied (answer: pyrethroids). And there's no declaration of ingredients on website, either. #mosquitoes #pesticides #insecticides #pyrethroids

My neighbors have subscribed to one of those twice-a-month mosquito-spraying services for over a decade. But the guys always blast it over the fence, coating my nearby strawberries and likely killing small pollinators such as syrphid flies for weeks. I still can't believe this is legal. #pyrethroids #insecticide #chemical #pollinators #mosquitoes #insects #MosquitoShield #swarthmore

Grrrr. Yet another peaceful morning disrupted by the whine of a gas-powered insecticide sprayer. They come to my neighbor's house every two weeks during the summer. I don't understand why this is legal. #insecticides #pollinators #nature #pyrethroids #insecticide #chemicals #pesticides #mosquito #mosquitoes

I just noticed that the Borough of Media, Pennsylvania, has a fantastic webpage urging residents to stop spraying pyrethroids on their yards (i.e., stop paying companies such as Mosquito Shield and Mosquito Squad to do it). The page also encourages people to report instances of pesticide drift from the target yard into neighboring yards. All towns should adopt a policy like this. #mosquito #mosquitoes #spraying #pesticides #pollinators #bees #insects #pyrethroids #delco #pennsylvania #BeeCityUsa
https://www.mediaborough.com/446/Mosquito-Spray-Drift

My neighbor just had her property fogged by Mosquito Shield, one of those outfits that uses gasoline-powered foggers to coat foliage with insecticides every few weeks. I can always smell it, which means that the chemicals have drifted into my yard and are now killing my insects. Makes my blood boil. Here's my post about pyrethroid sprays in case you can share with friends who are considering signing up for these services. #insects #insecticides #mosquitoes #mosquito #pyrethroids #chemical #pesticides #pollinators #nature
https://colinpurrington.com/2018/09/buzz-on-mosquito-sprays/

If you're alarmed by the proliferation of yard signs planted around town by mosquito-control companies, here's my blog post on what pesticides they are using. #mosquitoes #pesticides #pyrethroids #nature #insects #health #birds #cats https://colinpurrington.com/2018/09/buzz-on-mosquito-sprays/