The impact of pesticides on our health and well-being has become increasingly important over recent decades, given their roles in food production and around the home. The most commonly used type are the pyrethroids, which are also a huge health concern for aquatic life.

Wrobel et al. have now investigated the role these pesticides may have in endocrinology, for the first time. Utilising cervical cells from cows during the periovulation period, the group tested two insecticides, cypermethrin and fenvalerate, at a range of concentrations. They found that fenvalerate has the potential to induce endocrine disruption of the cervix.

Despite being a very early study, it is nevertheless incredibly interesting and has the potential to affect our understanding of and interactions with these pesticides.

Read the full article in Journal of Endocrinology 253 133–142