The oxidative stress inducing potential of bifenthrin was evaluated in the blood, lung and kidney homogenates of rats following its repeated dermal application for a period of 30 days. Bifenthrin treated animals showed significant increase in lipid peroxidation after 20 and 30 days of treatment in erythrocytes, lung and kidney. Blood glutathione decreased significantly both after 20 and 30 days of exposure. Superoxide dismutase increased significantly after 20th day of application of bifenthrin followed by significant decrease after 30th day. In lung superoxide dismutase activity decreased non-significantly after 20th day which decreased significantly after 30th day of application. Superoxide dismutase in kidney decreased significantly both after 20th and 30th day of treatment. The activity of glutathione peroxidase significantly decreased in erythrocytes, lung and kidney both after 20 and 30 days of exposure. No significant change in the activity of glutathione–S-transferase was observed after 20th day in blood and a significant decrease was observed after 30th day. Significant increase of glutathione–S-transferase was observed in lung both after 20 and 30 days of treatment where as in kidney significant increase was observed only after 30 days. There was a significant decrease of catalase in erythrocytes, lung and kidney both after 20th and 30th day of application. Non-significant changes were observed in acetylcholinesterase activities in treatment group both after 20th and 30th day. In conclusion bifenthrin treated animals showed alteration in antioxidant enzyme system suggesting its oxidative stress potential.
