Objective: Transfluthrin, an inhalational pyrethroid insecticide, commonly used in different kinds of mosquito repellents (also acts against flying insects & various pests) has toxic potential. This study thus aimed at assessing the histopathological effects of transfluthrin exposure using the rat model.

Materials and Methods: Healthy adult male rats, 5 groups of 6 rats each were exposed to Transfluthrin 0.88% w/w by inhalation at a rate of 8hours/day, for different durations, through common electronic mosquito repellent machine in a large stainless-steel cage maintaining standard conditions. Trachea, lungs, liver, brain, and kidney were dissected out on Day 2, 8, 15 and 22 and sent for histopathological examinations. 

Results: Significant ballooning degeneration in hepatocytes and micro vesicular periportal fatty changes with inflammatory sparse were seen. Desquamative interstitial pneumonia was found in lungs with mononuclear cell infiltration and peribronchiolar brown pigmentary deposits. Trachea shows loss of cilia, mucosal ulceration, and sub mucosal lymphoid aggregations. Vascular congestion and hemorrhages were found in kidney with gliosis in brain tissue. 

Conclusion: Transfluthrin has toxicological potential on liver, lung, trachea, and kidney even after the use as per the directions given in package inserts. The government should re-evaluate the permissible dose of transfluthrin after consultation with proper authority.

Himangshu Mahato, MD (Pharmacology) from West Bengal University of Health Sciences, is a motivated Assistant Professor with 10+ years of teaching experience and 7+ years of experience in Pharmacovigilance in North Bengal Medical College (NBMC), Darjeeling, India and practicing physician with 17+ years of experience with strong background in Diabetic patient care and Critical Care patient management. Additionally, he is Assistant Co-Ordinator of Adverse drug Monitoring Center, Deputy-Coordinator of Causality Assessment Committee of NBMC and Minilap/Tubectomy empaneled surgeon of Dept of health & Family welfare, Govt of West Bengal. His research specialization area includes Animal & Clinical Research, Toxicology (Oxidative stress and antioxidant activity, Insecticide exposure); Efficacy and safety of drugs; Antidiabetics, ADR monitoring and has 9 publications in National and International Medical Journals of repute which includes a book chapter with Best Paper Award from Indian Pharmacological Society. Certified in: Comprehensive critical care medicine (NABE Accredited), Diabetes (EASD, Germany), GCP-Regulations in clinical research & IEC formation (ICMR in collaboration with ISRPT and WBUHS) (NAPT in association with AIIMS-Nagpur), Biomedical Research (ICMR in association with NIE), Pharmacovigilance (Indian Pharmacopoeia commission) and Regulatory aspects of Pharmacovigilance (WHO-UMC, Sweden). He is a Life Member of NAPT, IMA, RSSDI.