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Acetamiprid

General Information

• Product Names:

  Assail (Nippon)
  Intruder (Nippon)
  Tristar (Nippon)

• Chemical Class: Neonicotinoid Insecticide
• Uses: Agriculture, Lawns/broadleaf plants
• Alternatives: Organic agriculture, Organic lawn care
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Insufficient Studies
• Endocrine Disruption: Possible (1)
• Reproductive Effects: Possible (2, 1)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (3, 4, 5)
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (6, 7, 8)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: No (9)
• Birth/Developmental: Possible (2, 9)
• Detected in Groundwater: Possible (10)
• Potential Leacher: Possible (9, 11)
• Toxic to Birds: Likely (9)
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (12)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (13)

Residential Uses as Found in the ManageSafe™ Database

• Ants
• Cockroaches
• Bed Bugs
• Termites

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Factsheet (3/2002)
  • Beyond Pesticides Comments (September 2025)
• Supporting information:
  • PAN Pesticides Database: (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies [compiled from the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database]
  • Low concentration acetamiprid-induced oxidative stress hinders the growth and development of silkworm posterior silk glands. Lu, Z., Ye, W., Feng, P., Dai, M., Bian, D., Ren, Y., Zhu, Q., Mao, T., Su, W., Li, F. and Sun, H., 2021. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 174, p.104824.
  • Effects of neonicotinoid pesticide exposure on human health: a systematic review. Cimino AM, Boyles AL, Thayer KA, Perry MJ. 2017. Environ Health Perspect. 125:155–162
  • Genotoxic effects of a particular mixture of acetamiprid and α‐cypermethrin on chromosome aberration, sister chromatid exchange, and micronucleus formation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Kocaman, A.Y. and Topaktaş, M., 2010. Environmental Toxicology: An International Journal, 25(2), pp.157-168.
  • Two cases of acute poisoning with acetamiprid in humans. Imamura, T., Yanagawa, Y., Nishikawa, K., Matsumoto, N. and Sakamoto, T., 2010. Clinical toxicology, 48(8), pp.851-853.
  • Effects of acetamiprid on immune system in female Wistar rats. Mondal, S., Ghosh, R.C., Mate, M.S. and Karmakar, D.B., 2009. In Proceedings of the Zoological Society (Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 109-117). Springer-Verlag.
  • In vitro evaluation of the genotoxicity of acetamiprid in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Kocaman, A.Y. and Topaktaş, M., 2007. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 48(6), pp.483-490.
  • Neonicotinoid insecticides promote breast cancer progression via G protein-coupled estrogen receptor: In vivo, in vitro and in silico studies. Li, X., He, S., Xiao, H., He, T.T., Zhang, J.D., Luo, Z.R., Ma, J.Z., Yin, Y.L., Luo, L. and Cao, L.Y., 2022. Environment International, 170, p.107568.
  • Infantile Internal and External Exposure to Neonicotinoid Insecticides: A Comparison of Levels across Various Sources. Zhang, H., Wang, Y., Zhu, H., Lu, S., Wang, Y., Xue, J., Zhang, T., Kannan, K. and Sun, H., 2023. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(13), pp.5358-5367.
  • Major Pesticides Are More Toxic to Human Cells Than Their Declared Active Principles. Mesnage, R. et al. (2014) Major pesticides are more toxic to human cells than their declared active principles, BioMed Research International. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3955666/.
  • The molecular determinants of pesticide sensitivity in bee pollinators. Bass, C. et al (2024) The molecular determinants of pesticide sensitivity in bee pollinators, Science of The Total Environment. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724003097.
  • Neonicotinoid pesticides: evidence of developmental neurotoxicity from regulatory rodent studies. Sass, J.B., Donley, N. and Freese, W. (2024) Neonicotinoid pesticides: evidence of developmental neurotoxicity from regulatory rodent studies, Frontiers in Toxicology. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/toxicology/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1438890/full.
  • Nationwide Biomonitoring of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Breast Milk and Health Risk Assessment to Nursing Infants in the Chinese Population. Chen, D. et al. (2020) Nationwide Biomonitoring of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Breast Milk and Health Risk Assessment to Nursing Infants in the Chinese Population, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c05769.
  • Impact of Endocrine Disrupting Pesticide Use on Obesity: A Systematic Review. Pérez-Bermejo, M. et al. (2024) Impact of Endocrine Disrupting Pesticide Use on Obesity: A Systematic Review, Biomedicines. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2677.
  • Widespread Use and Frequent Detection of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Wetlands of Canada's Prairie Pothole Region. Main, A.R. et al. (2014) Widespread Use and Frequent Detection of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Wetlands of Canada’s Prairie Pothole Region, PLOS ONE. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0092821.
  • A Th2-type immune response and low-grade systemic inflammatory reaction as potential immunotoxic effects in intensive agriculture farmers exposed to pesticides . Lozano-Paniagua, D. et al. (2024) ‘A th2-type immune response and low-grade systemic inflammatory reaction as potential immunotoxic effects in intensive agriculture farmers exposed to pesticides’, Science of The Total Environment, 938, p. 173545. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173545.
  • Pesticide-Induced Inflammation at a Glance. Lopes-Ferreira, M. et al. (2023) ‘Pesticide-induced inflammation at a glance’, Toxics, 11(11), p. 896. doi:10.3390/toxics11110896.
  • Residues and Bioavailability of Neonicotinoid Pesticide in Shaanxi Agricultural Soil. Hua, L., Zhao, D., Wang, H. et al. Residues and Bioavailability of Neonicotinoid Pesticide in Shaanxi Agricultural Soil. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 129 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06159-1
  • Adverse Effects of Pesticides on the Ovary: Evidence from Epidemiological and Toxicological Studies. Wang, L., Ma, X. and Liu, J. (2025) Adverse Effects of Pesticides on the Ovary: Evidence from Epidemiological and Toxicological Studies, Environment & Health. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/envhealth.4c00243.
  • The effects analysis of two neonicotinoid insecticides on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes using hanging drop monoculture method. Ishikawa, S., Hiraga, K., Hiradate, Y., & Tanemura, K. (2015). The effects analysis of two neonicotinoid insecticides on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes using hanging drop monoculture method. The Journal of veterinary medical science, 77(6), 725–728. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.15-0008
  • Neonicotinoid insecticides can pose a severe threat to grassland plant bug communities. Sedlmeier, J.E. et al. (2025) Neonicotinoid insecticides can pose a severe threat to grassland plant bug communities, Communications Earth & Environment. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02065-y.
  • Chronic oral exposure to field-realistic pesticide combinations via pollen and nectar: effects on feeding and thermal performance in a solitary bee. Azpiazu, C., Bosch, J., Viñuela, E. et al. Chronic oral exposure to field-realistic pesticide combinations via pollen and nectar: effects on feeding and thermal performance in a solitary bee. Sci Rep 9, 13770 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50255-4
  • Exposure to sublethal levels of insecticide-fungicide mixtures affect reproductive success and population growth rates in the solitary bee Osmia cornuta. Albacete, S., Sancho, G., Azpiazu, C., Sgolastra, F., Rodrigo, A., & Bosch, J. (2024). Exposure to sublethal levels of insecticide-fungicide mixtures affect reproductive success and population growth rates in the solitary bee Osmia cornuta. Environment international, 190, 108919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108919
  • Acute toxicity of 6 neonicotinoid insecticides to freshwater invertebrates. Raby, M., Nowierski, M., Perlov, D., Zhao, X., Hao, C., Poirier, D. G., & Sibley, P. K. (2018). Acute toxicity of 6 neonicotinoid insecticides to freshwater invertebrates. Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 37(5), 1430–1445. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4088
  • Single and joint toxicity assessment of acetamiprid and thiamethoxam neonicotinoids pesticides on biochemical indices and antioxidant enzyme activities of a freshwater fish Catla catla. Veedu, S. K., Ayyasamy, G., Tamilselvan, H., & Ramesh, M. (2022). Single and joint toxicity assessment of acetamiprid and thiamethoxam neonicotinoids pesticides on biochemical indices and antioxidant enzyme activities of a freshwater fish Catla catla. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP, 257, 109336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109336
  • The Effect of Neonicotinoids Exposure on Oreochromis niloticus Histopathological Alterations and Genotoxicity. El-Garawani, I.M., Khallaf, E.A., Alne-na-ei, A.A. et al. The Effect of Neonicotinoids Exposure on Oreochromis niloticus Histopathological Alterations and Genotoxicity. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 1001–1009 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03611-6
  • Occurrence of Current-Use Pesticides in Paired Indoor Dust, Drinking Water, and Urine Samples from the United States: Risk Prioritization and Health Implications. Xie, Y., Li, J., Salamova, A., & Zheng, G. (2025). Occurrence of Current-Use Pesticides in Paired Indoor Dust, Drinking Water, and Urine Samples from the United States: Risk Prioritization and Health Implications. Environmental science & technology, 59(25), 12507–12519. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c00961
  • Milkweed in agricultural field margins - A neonicotinoid exposure route for pollinators at multiple life stages. Naujokaitis-Lewis, I., Endicott, S., Gaudreault, E., Maisonneuve, F., & Robinson, S. A. (2024). Milkweed in agricultural field margins - A neonicotinoid exposure route for pollinators at multiple life stages. The Science of the total environment, 951, 175622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175622
  • Urinary pesticide biomarkers from adolescence to young adulthood in an agricultural setting in Ecuador: Study of secondary exposure to pesticides among children, adolescents, and adults (ESPINA) 2016 and 2022 examination data. Parajuli, R. et al. (2025) Urinary pesticide biomarkers from adolescence to young adulthood in an agricultural setting in Ecuador: Study of secondary exposure to pesticides among children, adolescents, and adults (ESPINA) 2016 and 2022 examination data, Data in Brief. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340925006067.
  • Pesticides residues and metabolites in honeybees: A Greek overview exploring Varroa and Nosema potential synergies. Kasiotis, Konstantinos M et al. “Pesticides residues and metabolites in honeybees: A Greek overview exploring Varroa and Nosema potential synergies.” The Science of the total environment vol. 769 (2021): 145213. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145213
  • Interaction of acetamiprid, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae in honey bees. Kang, Yuxin et al. “Interaction of acetamiprid, Varroa destructor, and Nosema ceranae in honey bees.” Journal of hazardous materials vol. 471 (2024): 134380. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134380
  • Sub-lethal effects of six neonicotinoids on avoidance behavior and reproduction of earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Ge, Jing et al. “Sub-lethal effects of six neonicotinoids on avoidance behavior and reproduction of earthworms (Eisenia fetida).” Ecotoxicology and environmental safety vol. 162 (2018): 423-429. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.06.064
  • Reproductive risk of Neonicotinoids: A review of male rodent studies. Irfan, S. et al. (2025) Reproductive Risk of Neonicotinoids: A Review of Male Rodent Studies, Environmental Research. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935125021553.
  • Neonicotinoid insecticide metabolites in seminal plasma: Associations with semen quality. Wang, A., Wan, Y., Zhou, L., Xia, W., Guo, Y., Mahai, G., Yang, Z., Xu, S., & Zhang, R. (2022). Neonicotinoid insecticide metabolites in seminal plasma: Associations with semen quality. The Science of the total environment, 811, 151407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151407
  • Characteristics of Exposure of Reproductive-Age Farmworkers in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, to Organophosphate and Neonicotinoid Insecticides: A Pilot Study. Suwannarin, N., Prapamontol, T., Isobe, T., Nishihama, Y., & Nakayama, S. F. (2020). Characteristics of Exposure of Reproductive-Age Farmworkers in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, to Organophosphate and Neonicotinoid Insecticides: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 7871. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217871
  • Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms of neonicotinoid acetamiprid in Leydig cells. Liu X, Wang C, Ma Y, et al. Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms of neonicotinoid acetamiprid in Leydig cells. Toxicology and Industrial Health. 2024;41(2):61-72. doi:10.1177/07482337241300215
  • Reproductive effects of subchronic exposure to acetamiprid in male rats. Arıcan, E.Y., Gökçeoğlu Kayalı, D., Ulus Karaca, B. et al. Reproductive effects of subchronic exposure to acetamiprid in male rats. Sci Rep 10, 8985 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65887-0
  • Mechanisms and histopathological impacts of acetamiprid and azoxystrobin in male rats. EL-Hak, H.N.G., Al-Eisa, R.A., Ryad, L. et al. Mechanisms and histopathological impacts of acetamiprid and azoxystrobin in male rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 43114–43125 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18331-3
  • Effect of acetamiprid on the immature murine testes. Terayama, H., Qu, N., Endo, H., Ito, M., Tsukamoto, H., Umemoto, K., … Sakabe, K. (2018). Effect of acetamiprid on the immature murine testes. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 28(6), 683–696. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2018.1504897
  • Honey bee hives as biomonitors of pesticide environmental pollution. The INSIGNIA-EU monitoring action. Fernández-Alba, A. et al. (2025) Honey bee hives as biomonitors of pesticide environmental pollution. The INSIGNIA-EU monitoring action, Science of The Total Environment. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725019254.