Investigating the Possible Human Health Risks Associated with Bioallethrin

Abstract Bioallethrin is a frequently employed pesticide for managing household and outdoor pests, leading to inevitable human exposure. This study explored the cytotoxic effects of bioallethrin on two distinct human cell lines, HepG2 and Caco-2, while also employing RNA sequencing to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cells were exposed to different bioallethrin concentrations (5, 10, and 20 µM for cytotoxicity and 10 µM in RNA sequencing) for 24 h. This revealed that exposure to bioallethrin led to a concentration-dependent decrease in cell number and an increase in nuclear and mitochondrial damage, as well as elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The changes observed were more pronounced in Caco-2 cells, except for mitochondrial damage, which was elevated in HepG2 cells. RNA sequencing revealed many differentially expressed genes in bioallethrin treated cell lines (HepG2, 4.83%; Caco-2, 17.7%). Several genes associated with protein processing, apoptosis, oxidative stress, cancer, and cellular irregularities were significantly up- or downregulated in bioallethrin treated cells. In conclusion, this research unveiled various adverse effects specific to human hepatic and intestinal cells following bioallethrin exposure. This highlights the need to identify safer alternatives and better understand and mitigate the health risks associated with this widely used pesticide. Graphical abstract