Acetamiprid: Mechanism of Action and Risks

Mechanism of Action

Acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, targets insect nervous systems by acting as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)^[1,4,8]. It mimics acetylcholine, causing overstimulation, paralysis, and death in insects like aphids and thrips^[3,6,7,22]. Its systemic and translaminar properties allow plant absorption, enabling contact and stomach poisoning^[2]. Acetamiprid is more selective for insect nAChRs than mammalian ones, enhancing its insecticidal efficacy^[0].

Risks to Humans

Acetamiprid poses low risks to humans under normal use due to its lower affinity for mammalian nAChRs^[29,27]. Regulatory assessments find no significant genotoxicity or developmental toxicity^[30]. However, acute poisoning from high exposure can cause nausea, respiratory failure, convulsions, and rare fatalities^{[24,26,32,35]}. Subchronic exposure may lead to reproductive issues, including reduced fertility and erectile dysfunction^{[28,31,34,36]}. Neurodevelopmental concerns exist but need further validation^[25].

Risks to Bees and Ants

Acetamiprid is less toxic to pollinators than other neonicotinoids but still poses risks^[15,13]. In bees, it causes acute death, disorientation, and sublethal effects like impaired foraging, gut microbiota disruption, and oxidative stress^{[17,18,11,14]}. Bumblebees show lethal and sublethal effects, prompting safety reviews^[12,21]. Residues accumulate in bees during foraging^[19]. In ants, it reduces queen survival, egg-laying, and mobility, causing tremors and comatose states^[16,20]. Ongoing monitoring addresses pollinator decline concerns.

References: [0] PubChem, Acetamiprid; [1,4,8] EPA, ScienceDirect; [2,3,6,7,22] Pesticide Properties Database, EFSA; [10-21] Various studies on bee/ant toxicity; [23-37] Clinical toxicology, reproductive health studies.