Study Reveals Common Household Insecticide Damages Muscles Through Overlooked Biochemical Pathway
A recent study published in Toxicology by researchers at Kurukshetra University, India, has found that transfluthrin, a widely used synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, directly impairs skeletal muscle cell metabolism. This insecticide, commonly found in household products for controlling pests like mosquitoes, flies, and moths, was previously understood to primarily affect neurological systems. The study, conducted in vitro, demonstrates that transfluthrin induces oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, atrophy, and altered glucose utilization in myotubes, which are crucial components of muscle tissue. This discovery highlights a previously under-recognized health risk associated with routine household insecticide exposure, suggesting a different mechanism of action beyond its known neurotoxic effects. Transfluthrin was originally registered in 2018, with new uses permitted in 2023, including in vaporizers, aerosol sprays, and patio lanterns. Earlier epidemiological studies have also linked pyrethroid e...
