Page 72 - VERITAS Vol.2 Issue 2

A REVIEW ON FREQUENCY

AND PREVALENCE OF PYRE-

THROID POISONING IN INDIA

Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages:63-69
Ms. Riya Raj C A

INTRODUCTION

Poisoning is one of the most ancient crimes among humanity and

one that will never fade in society. The intentions of poisoning range

from accidental, homicidal, to suicidal. The choice of poisons also

differ across intentions of poisoning. For example, a suicidal poison
choice would be an easily available, yet effective poison, whereas an

accidental or homicidal poison may go unnoticed (less effective) for

many days. Traditional pesticides are the organophosphates, organo-

chlorines, and carbamates that are commonly used in pest manage-

ment in the agro-business. A new and emerging class of pesticides

are the pyrethroids which are of interest in forensic science due to its

undue use in poisoning - both with suicidal and homicidal intent.
Pyrethroids are a synthetic version of pyrethrin, a naturally occurring

pesticide found in chrysanthemum (flower). They were developed in

such a way as to maximise their stability in the environment. It has in-

secticidal properties of pyrethrin that are strongly lipophilic and rap-

idly penetrate into insects, paralysing their nervous system.

In this background, some facts about pyrethroids are presented below:

Chemistry of pyrethroids - Pyrethrins are a mixture of six structurally
related insecticidal esters formed by a combination of two acids (chry-

santhemic acid and pyrethric acid) and three alcohols (pyrethrolone,

cinerolone, and jasmolone). The mode of action of pyrethroid poison-

ing - They act as axonic excitotoxins, i.e., the toxic effects are medi-

ated by preventing the closure of the voltage-gated sodium channels

in the axonal membranes. When the toxin keeps the channels in their

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Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2