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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] PANNA: Malathion Facts
  • Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:39:26 -0700


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.






  • [Livingontheland] PANNA: Malathion Facts, Tradingpost, 12/07/2008

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