Abstract
Chronic exposure to pyrethroid-based allethrin and prallethrin mosquito repellents alters plasma biochemical profile is examined. Increase in plasma glucose levels in exposed subjects appears to be an adaptive biochemical mechanism to prevent hypoglycemia. Protein degradation in exposed subjects results in an elevation of plasma free amino acids. There is some tissue damage and cardiovascular risk in exposed subjects and the operation of some counter acting mechanism is also obvious. Increased production of plasma nitric oxide (NO), nitrite (NO sub(2)) and nitrate (NO sub(3)) levels are observed. Further studies are needed to correlate the toxic effects of prolonged use of allethrin and rallethrin on health status of individuals.