Toxicity

• According to the National Pesticide Information Center, cockroaches were affected by very small amounts of cypermethrin, exhibiting lack of coordination, prostration, restlessness and paralysis. Mice and rats showed symptoms of convulsions and salivation with small amounts. Humans who come in contact with cypermethrin may develop symptoms of tingling, dizziness, burning and itching.
  
  

Metabolizing

• Rats that ingested cypermethrin eliminated 50 to 65 percent of the chemical through their urine in a 48-hour period. They passed 30 percent of it in their feces over three days. Humans excrete 49 to 79 percent of the chemical in a 24-hour period. This demonstrates that there is probably no accumulation of cypermethrin in the body.
  
  

Wildlife

• While cypermethrin is minimally toxic to birds, it is extremely toxic to fish, bees and water insects. The chemical is eliminated at a much slower rate by fish. Therefore, there are explicit directions and precautions for products containing cypermethrin to prevent water contamination. Cypermethrin may only be used by individuals who are certified for handling this chemical.
  
  

Regulations

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates the use of cypermethrin. This means it has been tested for long-term as well as short-term effects on the health of domestic animals, wildlife and humans in the event of overexposure. When label instructions are followed it is not likely that there will be toxic effects. The amount that humans and animals are exposed to are probably very low compared to the amounts used in the testing of lab animals.
  
  

Acute Toxicity

• Ingested in high doses, cypermethrin can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. It can lead to convulsions, unconsciousness and eventually coma. Symptoms of high exposure to your skin can include lack of coordination, loss of bladder control, seizures and death.