Assessment of Permethrin Toxicity Following Subacute Dermal Exposure in Rats

Permethrin is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family, used for control of pests in veterinary and agriculture sector. Present study was planned to evaluate the toxicity of permethrin following daily dermal application in Albino rats for 28 days. Thirty six rats were divided in to three groups, each group containing six animals. Group I was treated as control and rats in groups II and III were dermally exposed to permethrin at dose 100 and 200 mg.kg-1 b.wt., respectively daily for 28 days. Hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed at 0, 14th and 28th day of exposure. Significant changes in level of haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume was observed at both the doses of permethrin during exposure period. The present investigation also resulted in significant elevation in aspartate amino transaminase, alanine amino transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase activities and significant increase in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine level in permethrin treated rats at both dose levels which indicated liver and kidney. Present study suggests that permethrin may be harmful when repeated dermal exposure occurs.