Malathion an Organ Osphate Insecticide
Week Two
Debra Howard
SCI/275
Assignment: Risk Assessment
Due Date: 02/12/2011
Instructor: Dr. Jensen
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide; it is used to control certain insect population like boll weevil, med fly ,and mosquitoes. Applications of malathion has been used on the ground or sprayed in the air when trying to get rid on adult mosquitoes associated with West Nile Virus. (ATSDR 2001). When using malathion by ground or spraying the EPA says it has a relatively low toxicity to humans, other mammals and birds when comparing the chemical to other organophosphate insecticides.(EPA2000 ab) However because of the danger it imposes on aquatic organisms direct application to bodies of water is avoided. There are four important factors one should take inconsideration before using malathion as a solution to the mosquitoes’ and West Nile Virus problem. Hazard identification: The chemical Malathion does have negative side effects for humans and eco system. Dose-response: Depending on the amount of Malathion ingested the symptoms can vary from mild to moderate or severe poisoning, results can be life threatening. Exposure: Water pH level over 5 percent causes negative effects to aquatic animals, and plants.
Malathion degrades rapidly in the environment when used by spraying or ground applications.
Risk characterization: The ATSDR has developed several risk levels concerning the gestation of malathion. Testing done on humans and animals with an uncertainty factor used, to determine what level of contamination is a risk.
Using these proposed values for the risk assessments for public health mosquito uses, EPA
(2000d) concluded that the risk estimates for adults and toddlers for combined dermal and
Inhalation exposure did not exceed EPA’s levels of concern for residential bystander inhalation and dermal exposure from truck fogger and aerial ULV mosquito-control applications. This assessment included
Debra Howard
SCI/275
Assignment: Risk Assessment
Due Date: 02/12/2011
Instructor: Dr. Jensen
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide; it is used to control certain insect population like boll weevil, med fly ,and mosquitoes. Applications of malathion has been used on the ground or sprayed in the air when trying to get rid on adult mosquitoes associated with West Nile Virus. (ATSDR 2001). When using malathion by ground or spraying the EPA says it has a relatively low toxicity to humans, other mammals and birds when comparing the chemical to other organophosphate insecticides.(EPA2000 ab) However because of the danger it imposes on aquatic organisms direct application to bodies of water is avoided. There are four important factors one should take inconsideration before using malathion as a solution to the mosquitoes’ and West Nile Virus problem. Hazard identification: The chemical Malathion does have negative side effects for humans and eco system. Dose-response: Depending on the amount of Malathion ingested the symptoms can vary from mild to moderate or severe poisoning, results can be life threatening. Exposure: Water pH level over 5 percent causes negative effects to aquatic animals, and plants.
Malathion degrades rapidly in the environment when used by spraying or ground applications.
Risk characterization: The ATSDR has developed several risk levels concerning the gestation of malathion. Testing done on humans and animals with an uncertainty factor used, to determine what level of contamination is a risk.
Using these proposed values for the risk assessments for public health mosquito uses, EPA
(2000d) concluded that the risk estimates for adults and toddlers for combined dermal and
Inhalation exposure did not exceed EPA’s levels of concern for residential bystander inhalation and dermal exposure from truck fogger and aerial ULV mosquito-control applications. This assessment included
References: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/west_nile_virus/malathion.html