Induction of mitotic micronuclei by the pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate in cultured human lymphocytes.

The pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate was tested for its ability to induce mitotic micronuclei in cytokinesis-block cells of cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 micrograms/ml. We observed that fenvalerate induces a significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei, indicating clastogenic and/or aneugenic activity. Our results complement previous data on the genotoxicity of this compound in human lymphocytes.