Anvil is a pesticide product that is used to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas. It contains sumithrin, piperonyl butoxide and petroleum distillate. Sumithrin is a synthetic pesticide similar to a natural pesticide (pyrethrum) produced by chrysanthemum flowers. Piperonyl butoxide does not directly kill insects on its own but acts to increase the ability of sumithrin to kill insects. Other pesticide products containing these ingredients are used indoors and on pets to control insects such as fleas, ticks and ants. Because pesticides are inherently toxic, no pesticide is absolutely risk free. The likelihood of experiencing adverse health effects as result of exposure to any pesticide, including Anvil, depends primarily on the amount of pesticide which a person contacts and the amount of time the person is in contact with that pesticide. In addition, a person’s age, sex, genetic makeup, life style and/or general health characteristics can affect their likelihood of experiencing adverse health effects as result of exposure to pesticides. Accidental, short–term exposures to very high levels of pyrethroid pesticides similar to sumithrin can affect the nervous system, causing effects such as incoordination, tremors, or tingling and numbness in areas of skin contact. Short-term exposures to high levels of petroleum distillates can cause irritation of the eye, skin, nose, throat or lung. Vomiting or central nervous system depression may occur if very high levels of petroleum distillates are ingested. There are no studies examining whether or not the use of Anvil to control mosquitoes has caused any long-term health effects in humans. Since Anvil is applied at very low concentrations, it is unlikely that adverse health effects will occur as a result of its use to control mosquitoes. Nevertheless, some individuals may experience health effects as a result of short-term exposure to the very low levels of Anvil used to control mosquitoes. For these reasons, individuals should consider taking common sense steps to minimize their exposure to Anvil if it is applied to control mosquitoes. "Endocrine disruptors" are chemicals which interfere with endocrine system function. The endocrine system consists of glands which produce hormones that act together to guide development, growth, reproduction and behavior, and to maintain normal organ function. High concentrations of sumithrin acted like estrogen (a naturally occurring hormone) when it was added to cells growing in plastic dishes in a laboratory. This suggests that sumithrin may interfere with endocrine system function in whole animals. Although changes in thyroid hormone levels occurred in animals repeatedly exposed to some other pyrethroids, there are no specific studies examining whether or not sumithrin or the other components of Anvil, piperonyl butoxide or petroleum distillate, interfere with endocrine system function in whole animals. Our knowledge of the relationship between exposure and endocrine system effects is still developing. Because of the low application rates and rapid environmental breakdown of pyrethroids, it is unlikely that endocrine system effects would be experienced if they are used to control mosquitoes. Most people would not be expected to experience any symptoms. However, there could be some individuals who may be particularly sensitive to one or more constituents of Anvil, and could possibly experience short-term effects such as eye, skin, nose or throat irritation or breathing problems. Children, in particular, may be at greater risk of experiencing adverse effects due to the application of Anvil since they may have the potential for greater exposures than adults. Neither sumithrin nor piperonyl butoxide is likely to affect pregnancy outcomes in people as a result of spraying. Although some effects occurred in laboratory animals that were given large amounts of either sumithrin or piperonyl butoxide, these amounts far exceeded the amounts that individuals are likely to contact from the spraying with Anvil. Available information suggests that Anvil is not likely to cause cancer if people are exposed during or following the spraying program. Sumithrin did not cause cancer in rats or mice when they were fed high levels for their lifetime. Experimental studies have reported that piperonyl butoxide causes liver tumors in rats and mice when they are fed high levels of piperonyl butoxide every day for a long period of time. The amount of piperonyl butoxide ingested by animals in these studies, however, far exceeds the amount humans might be exposed to as a result of the use of Anvil to control mosquitoes. All available information thus indicates that piperonyl butoxide is unlikely to cause cancer in humans as a result of its use to control mosquitoes. If you want to reduce your pets’ exposure, keep them inside during the spraying. As mentioned above, products containing sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide can be applied directly on pets to control ticks and fleas. Anvil breaks down fairly quickly in water and in sunlight. If possible, you may want to cover your pool before the spraying occurs. However, given the small concentrations of Anvil being sprayed, no special precautions or waiting periods are recommended for swimming pools.
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