Malathion: Things to Know Before Spraying this Insecticide

Malathion (C₁₀H₁₉O₆PS₂₎ is a popular organophosphate insecticide used for many insecticidal reasons, including the control of the mosquito population. Malathion attacks the nervous system in mosquitoes, leaving them helpless, and ultimately causing their deaths. Although this is the desired end effect, the problem is that this chemical has the potential to do the same or worse damage in humans and animals if the misuse of Malathion or an impure form of Malathion is fogged or sprayed in mega doses.

According to By Thomas Wills of The Merchant Herald, in Paonia, Colorado, The city had started an annexation process for those who own property and wish not to have Malathion sprayed in their vicinity (Wills, 2006). Several property owners used this process to halt spraying on their properties. One source known by the name of Hotchkiss, which is a name for a town who works closely with Paonia, Colorado reminded those in Paonia of the horrible effects Malathion had on New York City in 1999. Heavy spraying of Malathion occurred in New York City to control mosquitoes during a West Nile Virus scare. Hotchkiss quoted directly from the New York City Chem-bio Handbook, it states that, "Exposure to Malathion can cause: Headache, nausea, vomiting, cramps, weakness, blurred vision, pin-point pupils, tightness in chest, labored breathing, nervousness, sweating, watering eyes, drooling or frothing of the mouth and nose, muscle spasms and coma. Other acute effects can include mental confusion, frequent urination, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and seizures. Chronic effects of Malathion exposure include delayed neurological effects including pain, numbness, and weakness in the extremities, which may persist for months or years." "...Central nervous system damage includes memory, mood, and motor coordination" (2006).Other historical facts support the evidence that Malathion is a potential health threat. In Pakistan in 1976, Isomalathion, an impurity in the Malathion caused five spray men in Pakistan to die after spraying the chemical and being exposed. 2,800 of the spray men were poisoned, but lived (nospray.org, Archives in toxicology, 1979).

Dose-Response Assessment

The research shows that Malathion is not toxic in itself, unless it is absorbed into the body of humans or animals can cause several cellular mutations, especially in the cells of the lymph systems and white blood cells. Individuals tolerate different levels of Malathion. In other words, what may be non-toxic to one may be highly toxic to another. Those who are at the highest risk of exposure are those who spray Malathion, children of those who spray Malathion, and children in general are at a higher end of the risk spectrum than an average adult is.

Dose-Response Assessment in animals In addition, Malathion affects fish significantly. According to EXTOXNET, the walleye pike, and two breeds of the trout species (the cutthroat and brown) show Malathion to be very highly toxic. After 24 hours of exposure to Malathion, the Bluefish, a popular sport fish, "mild degenerative changes" occurred in the gills. Furthermore, frogs among other animals in the tadpole stage are prone to poisoning (1996). With fish and aquatic life dying in massive amounts from Malathion poisoning, this may cause birds to starve in the very near future. It is also a known fact that Malathion crosses over the placenta to unborn kids in the goat, and causes the unborn kid depression of cholinesterase activity (EXTOXNET, 1996). If these fish are highly sensitive to Malathion, what is to say that other breeds will not be highly sensitive? I believe that spraying Malathion is one of the worst ideas we have had since good old DDT. Could this be another DDT? We shudder to think about it.

Benjah-bmm27, (2006). Image:Malathion-3D-sticks.png. Retrieved May 10, 2008, from Wikipedia.org: Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Malathion-3D-sticks.png

EXTOXNET, (1996). Pesticide Information Profiles: Malathion. Retrieved May 10, 2008, from EXTOXNET Web site: http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/malathio.htm

Unknown, (1989). Chem-tox.com. Retrieved May 10, 2008, from Gill Damage from Malathion Occurs to Popular Sport Fish Web site: http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/research/#gill

Wills, T. (2006). Annexation Approved By Board . Retrieved May 10, 2008, from Paonia.com Web site: http://www.paonia.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=94

Wills, T. (2006). Multiple Dangers Associated with Malathion . Retrieved May 10, 2008, from Paonia.com Web site: http://www.paonia.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=94