According to the CDFA, "Tempo is a line of pesticide products containing the active product beta-cyfluthrin." This product contains a synthetically created chemical that attempts to mimic the one found in chrysanthemums. However, Tempo is extremely toxic to aquatic life and bees!
This will be applied as a foliar spray to the leaves of citrus trees and ornamental plants. It binds to the nerve cells of insects and mammals. The CDFA claims that healthy mammals with properly functioning detoxification pathways excrete this poison faster than insects. Animal testing shows that this product affects the nervous, reproduction, and developmental systems.
According to the MSDS and label, "This pesticide is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.... To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters....
This pesticide is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on crops or weeds. Do not apply TEMPO SC ULTRA Insecticide or allow it to drift onto crops or weeds on which bees are actively foraging.
Other than applications to building foundations, all outdoor applications to impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, porches and structural surfaces (such as windows, doors, and eaves) are limited to spot and crack-and-crevice applications, only. Application is prohibited directly into sewers or drains, or to any area like a gutter where drainage to sewers, storm drains, water bodies, or aquatic habitat can occur. Do not allow the product to enter any drain during or after application."
Beyond Pesticides brings out this, "The DDT-like pesticide causes repetitive discharge and strong excitatory action on the central nervous system, peripheral nerves and skeletal muscle fibers, by interfering with axonal sodium and potassium channels, as does DDT.1,2,3 As a result, cyfluthrin induces salivation, incoordination, muscle trembling, jerky movements, behavioral changes and convulsions. Cyfluthrin causes axonal degeneration in nerves and necrosis in muscle in rats, 4 as well as nerve degeneration in delayed neurotoxicity studies in hens.5
Cyfluthrin is clearly highly toxic in acute animal studies. It caused changes in a wide variety of organs such as submaxillary gland, liver, adrenal, spleen, and ovary in rats.11 Toxic effects on the blood included decreased glucose, red blood cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin."
Resources:
This will be applied as a foliar spray to the leaves of citrus trees and ornamental plants. It binds to the nerve cells of insects and mammals. The CDFA claims that healthy mammals with properly functioning detoxification pathways excrete this poison faster than insects. Animal testing shows that this product affects the nervous, reproduction, and developmental systems.
According to the MSDS and label, "This pesticide is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.... To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters....
This pesticide is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on crops or weeds. Do not apply TEMPO SC ULTRA Insecticide or allow it to drift onto crops or weeds on which bees are actively foraging.
Other than applications to building foundations, all outdoor applications to impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, porches and structural surfaces (such as windows, doors, and eaves) are limited to spot and crack-and-crevice applications, only. Application is prohibited directly into sewers or drains, or to any area like a gutter where drainage to sewers, storm drains, water bodies, or aquatic habitat can occur. Do not allow the product to enter any drain during or after application."
Beyond Pesticides brings out this, "The DDT-like pesticide causes repetitive discharge and strong excitatory action on the central nervous system, peripheral nerves and skeletal muscle fibers, by interfering with axonal sodium and potassium channels, as does DDT.1,2,3 As a result, cyfluthrin induces salivation, incoordination, muscle trembling, jerky movements, behavioral changes and convulsions. Cyfluthrin causes axonal degeneration in nerves and necrosis in muscle in rats, 4 as well as nerve degeneration in delayed neurotoxicity studies in hens.5
Cyfluthrin is clearly highly toxic in acute animal studies. It caused changes in a wide variety of organs such as submaxillary gland, liver, adrenal, spleen, and ovary in rats.11 Toxic effects on the blood included decreased glucose, red blood cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin."
Resources:
- Beyond Pesticides research on cyfluthrin with quoted resources: https://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/pesticides/factsheets/cyfluthrin.pdf
- MSDS & Label: http://tricountypestco.com/Labels/tempo%20sc%20label.pdf
- CDFA Information Sheet on Tempo: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/factsheets/Tempo-QA.pdf
- Citizen’s Guide
Note from an Industry Expert
Pyrethroids are synthetic versions of pyrethrin, a natural insecticide found in certain species of chrysanthemum. Pyrethroids are suspected endocrine disruptors, have been linked to certain cancers, and are particularly dangerous to aquatic life even at low concentrations. Despite the fact that there are plenty of effective pest control methods that are not nearly as toxic, these insecticides are some of the most popular household pesticides, available in the form of powders and sprays to control ants, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and cockroaches. As research unfurls, particularly on the combined effects that these insecticides have, the high-volume uses of pyrethroids are major cause for concern to human and environmental health. Studies have shown that synthetic pyrethroids can cause pregnant women to have autistic children and that children exposed to pyrethroids can develop leukemia and lymphoma.
Give this information to the people who want to spray. If they disagree and still want to spray, ask them to sign a waiver stating that they will be responsible for all medical bills that might incur as a result of their spraying. If they refuse to sign, another chapter in the lawsuit.