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PANNA: Malathion Facts
http://www.panna.org/files/factsMalathion.dv.html

Malathion Facts

EPA has expressed concern about children’s health risks from malathion when 
exposure from lawn treatments is combined with exposure from food and 
drinking water.

Used To Control: Insects
Top Uses: Cotton, medfly quarantine, mosquito control
Known Health Effects: Neurotoxicity, possible carcinogenity, suspected 
hormone disruption
Use and Exposure

Malathion is an organophosphorus insecticide used on agricultural and 
nonagricultural crops as well as residential applications, such as lawns and 
gardens. It is also used in government programs to control mosquitoes and 
boll weevils. EPA estimates that about 16.7 million pounds of active 
ingredient are used annually, mostly (11.2 million pounds) on cotton as part 
of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program (1). Malathion has been used recently 
to kill mosquitoes in efforts to control the spread of West Nile Virus. 
People may be exposed by eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated 
water, or breathing air near the manufacture or use of malathion (2). EPA 
states that “adult applicator exposure and toddler post-application exposure 
to turf treatments are of risk concern,” particularly in combination with 
food and drinking water exposure (1).

In California, 489,650 pounds were used in 2000. The top crops on which 
malathion were used were alfalfa and strawberries. Another common use in 
California was “regulatory purposes,” which might include the control of 
medflies and vector-borne diseases like West Nile Virus (3).
Health Effects

Breathing, ingesting, or touching malathion causes neurological effects 
stemming from the inhibition of cholinesterase, an enzyme necessary for the 
proper transmission of nerve impulses. Symptoms include excessive salivation 
and tearing, uncontrolled urination, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, 
headaches, pinpoint pupils, confusion and dizziness. At higher doses, 
tremors, convulsions or respiratory paralysis may occur, sometimes leading to 
coma and death. Malathion is a possible carcinogen, and a suspected endocrine 
disruptor that interferes with the natural function of estrogen, androgen and 
thyroid hormones.
Companies That Manufacture Products Containing Malathion

Cheminova Agro A/S, Griffin LLC, Prentiss Inc., Verdant Brands Inc., AMVAC 
Chemical Corp., Gowan Co., Drexel Chemical Co., Platte Chemical Co. Inc., 
Micro-Flo Co. (2)
References

(1) United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide 
Programs. “Malathion Summary.” November 2000. Available at 
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/malathion/summary.htm accessed 1/22/03.
(2) United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Overview of Malathion 
risk Assessment.” November 2000. Available at 
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/malathion/overview.htm accessed 1/27/03.
(3) Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database. “Chemical Information about 
Malathion.” Available at 
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/PCW/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC32924 accessed 
1/22/03.