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(Fwd) Malathion...FYI
Hope listers dont mind my posting this. I'm not sure
whether this info was made available to this list yet.
b
*******************************************
* HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE FACT SHEET *
* RIGHT TO KNOW PROGRAM *
* NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH *
*******************************************
Common Name: MALATHION
CAS Number: 121-75-5
DOT Number: NA 2783
------------------------------------------------------------
RTK Substance number: 1150
Date: March 1989
------------------------------------------------------------
MALATHION
HAZARD SUMMARY
* Malathion can affect you when breathed in and quickly enters the
body by
passing through the skin. Severe organophosphate poisoning can
occur from
skin contact. It is a moderately toxic organophosphate chemical.
* Malathion may cause mutations. Handle with extreme caution.
* Exposure can cause rapid severe poisoning with headache,
sweating, nausea
and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination and death.
IDENTIFICATION
Malathion is a yellow to deep brown liquid with a skunk-like odor.
It is an
organophosphate insecticide available as wettable powders, liquid
concentrates, dusts and aerosols.
REASON FOR CITATION
* Malathion is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is
regulated by
OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH and EPA.
* This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List
because it is
MUTAGEN.
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED
* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely
evaluated. This may
include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain
copies of
sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this
information under OSHA 1910.20.
* If you think you are experiencing any work-related health
problems, see a
doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact
Sheet with
you.
WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 10
mg/m3 total
dust or 5 mg/m3 respirable dust averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 15 mg/m3
averaged over a
10-hour workshift.
ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 10 mg/m3
averaged over an
8-hour workshift.
* The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
contact also
occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less
than the
limits listed above.
* Malathion may cause mutations. All contact with this chemical
should be
reduced to the lowest possible level.
WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
* Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
ventilation at
the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or
enclosure is
not used, respirators should be worn.
* Wear protective work clothing.
* Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Malathion and at
the end of
the workshift.
* Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
addition, as
part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all
information on the health and safety hazards of Malathion to
potentially
exposed workers.
------------------------------------------------------------
This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential
and most
severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of
exposure,
concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your
susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below.
------------------------------------------------------------
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Acute Health Effects
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
immediately or
shortly after exposure to Malathion:
* Exposure to Malathion can cause rapid, fatal organophosphate
poisoning
with headache, sweating, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle
twitching and
death.
* Contact can irritate the eyes.
Chronic Health Effects
The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some
time
after exposure to Malathion and can last for months or years:
Cancer Hazard
* Malathion may cause mutations (genetic changes) in living cells.
Whether
or not it poses a cancer or reproductive hazard needs further study.
* Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a
carcinogen. Such substances may also have the potential for
causing
reproductive damage in humans.
Reproductive Hazard
* Malathion has been shown to affect the survival and growth of
newborn
laboratory animals. Its effect on humans is unknown at this time.
Other Long-Term Effects
* High or repeated exposure may damage the nerves, causing
weakness, "pins
and needles" and poor coordination in arms and legs.
* Repeated exposure may cause personality changes of
depression, anxiety, or
irritability.
MEDICAL
Medical Testing
Before employment and at regular times after that, the following are
recommended:
* Plasma and red blood cell cholinesterase levels (tests for the
enzyme
poisoned by this chemical). If exposure stops, plasma levels
return to
normal in 1-2 weeks while red blood cell levels may be reduced for
1-3
months.
* When cholinesterase enzyme levels are reduced by 25% or more
below
preemployment levels, risk of poisoning is increased, even if results
are in
lower ranges of "normal". Reassignment to work not involving
organophosphate or carbamate pesticides is recommended until
enzyme levels
recover.
If symptoms develop or overexposure occurs, repeat the above
tests as soon
as possible and get an exam of the nervous system.
Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present
symptoms
with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done
are not a
substitute for controlling exposure.
Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to
this
information under OSHA 1910.20.
Mixed Exposures
Persons exposed to other chemicals which affect body
cholinesterase
(organophosphates, carbamates) may be at increased risk.
WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
substance,
ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing
exposure. The
best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local
exhaust
ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can
also
reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less
effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes
necessary.
In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1)
how
hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is
released into
the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could
occur.
Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or
when
significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible.
In addition, the following controls are recommended:
* Where possible, automatically pump liquid Malathion from drums
or other
storage containers to process containers.
* Specific engineering controls are recommended for this chemical
by NIOSH.
Refer to the NIOSH criteria document: Occupational Exposure to
Malathion
#76-205.
Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous
exposures. The following
work practices are recommended:
* Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Malathion
should change
into clean clothing promptly.
* Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family members
could be
exposed.
* Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals
who have been
informed of the hazards of exposure to Malathion.
* Eye wash fountains in the immediate work area should be
provided for
emergency use.
* If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower
facilities
should be provided.
* On skin contact with Malathion, immediately wash or shower to
remove the
chemical.
* Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Malathion is handled,
processed, or
stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands
carefully before
eating or smoking.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However,
for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs
done only
once in a while, or jobs done while workplace controls are being
installed),
personal protective equipment may be appropriate.
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not
apply to every
situation.
Clothing
* Avoid skin contact with Malathion. Wear protective gloves and
clothing.
Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide
recommendations on the
most protective glove/ clothing material for your operation.
* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should
be
clean, available each day and put on before work.
Eye Protection
* Wear splash-proof chemical goggles and face shield when
working with
liquid, unless full facepiece respiratory protection is worn.
* Wear dust-proof goggles when working with powders or dust,
unless full
facepiece respiratory protection is worn.
Respiratory Protection
IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such
equipment should only be
used if the employer has a written program that takes into account
workplace
conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and
medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134.
* Where the potential exists for exposures over 10 mg/m3, use a
MSHA/NIOSH
approved full facepiece respirator with a pesticide cartridge.
Increased
protection is obtained from full facepiece air purifying respirators.
* If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator, you can
smell, taste, or otherwise detect Malathion, or in the case of a full
facepiece respirator you experience eye irritation, leave the area
immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still
good.
If it is, replace the filter, cartridge, or canister. If the seal is no
longer good, you may need a new respirator.
* Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace.
You may
need a combination of filters, prefilters, cartridges, or canisters, to
protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and
mist) or
against a mixture of chemicals.
* Where the potential for high exposures exists, use a
MSHA/NIOSH approved
supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in the positive
pressure mode or with a full facepiece, hood, or helmet in the
continuous
flow mode.
* Exposure to 5,000 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and
health. If
the possibility of exposure above 5,000 mg/m3 exists, use a
MSHA/NIOSH
approved self contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece
operated
in continuous flow or other positive pressure mode.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic health
effects?
A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from
repeated
exposures to a chemical.
Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short-term
effects?
A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated
exposures to a
chemical at levels not high enough to make you immediately sick.
Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been exposed
to
chemicals?
A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is increased as
the amount
of exposure increases. This is determined by the length of time
and the
amount of material to which someone is exposed.
Q: When are higher exposures more likely?
A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust
releasing
operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping, etc.), other
physical and
mechanical processes (heating, pouring, spraying, spills and
evaporation
from large surface areas such as open containers), and "confined
space"
exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms,
etc.).
Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for community
residents?
A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of
fires or
spills, are usually much lower than those found in the workplace.
However,
people in the community may be exposed to contaminated water
as well as to
chemicals in the air over long periods. Because of this, and
because of
exposure of children or people who are already ill, community
exposures may
cause health problems.
Q: Don't all chemicals cause cancer?
A: No. Most chemicals tested by scientists are not cancer-
causing.
Q: Who is at the greatest risk from reproductive hazards?
A: Pregnant women are at greatest risk from chemicals that harm
the
developing fetus. However, chemicals may affect the ability to have
children, so both men and women of childbearing age are at high
risk.
------------------------------------------------------------
The following information is available from:
New Jersey Department of Health
Occupational Health Service
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
(609) 984-1863
Industrial Hygiene Information
Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions
regarding the
control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special
work
practices, good housekeeping, good hygiene practices, and
personal
protective equipment including respirators. In addition, they can
help to
interpret the results of industrial hygiene survey data.
Medical Evaluation
If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to
chemicals at your
workplace, you may call a Department of Health physician who can
help you
find the services you need.
Public Presentations
Presentations and educational programs on occupational health or
the Right
to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, trade associations
and other
groups.
Right to Know Information Resources
The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer questions
about the
identity and potential health effects of chemicals, list of educational
materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the
Fact
Sheets, preparation of the Right to Know survey, education and
training
programs, labeling requirements, and general information regarding
the Right
to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-
5627.
------------------------------------------------------------
DEFINITIONS
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists. It
recommends upper limits (called TLVs) for exposure to workplace
chemicals.
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer.
The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to
identify a
specific chemical.
A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
irreversible
damage to human tissue or containers.
DEPE is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
and Energy.
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency that
regulates
the transportation of chemicals.
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency
responsible
for regulating environmental hazards.
A fetus is an unborn human or animal.
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite
easily and burn rapidly.
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off
vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.
HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal EPA.
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a
scientific group
that classifies chemicals according to their cancer-causing
potential.
A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve in
another.
mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It
is a
measure of concentration (weight/volume).
MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the federal
agency that
regulates mining. It also evaluates and approves respirators.
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is a
change in
the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth
defects,
miscarriages, or cancer.
NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that
determines the
cancer-causing potential of chemicals.
NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
substances
according to their fire and explosion hazard.
NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
It
tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, conducts
studies of
workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA.
NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals
and reviews
evidence for cancer.
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which
adopts and
enforces health and safety standards.
ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
measure of
concentration by volume in air.
A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy
under
certain conditions.
A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging
the fetus.
TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure limit
recommended
by ACGIH.
The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a solid
mixes
with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher
concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the
likelihood
of breathing it in.
>>>>>>>>>E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N
<<<<<<<<<
Common Name: MALATHION
DOT Number: NA 2783
DOT Emergency Guide code: 55
CAS Number: 121-75-5
-----------------------------------------
|Hazard rating | NJ DOH | NFPA |
-----------------------------------------
|FLAMMABILITY |Not Found|Not Rated|
-----------------------------------------
|REACTIVITY |Not Found|Not Rated|
-----------------------------------------
|POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE |
|CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE |
-----------------------------------------
Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight;
2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe
FIRE HAZARDS
* Malathion may burn, but does not readily ignite.
* Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray, or foam extinguishers.
* POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including
Sulfur Dioxide and
Phosphoric Acid.
* CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and
equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.
SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES
If Malathion is spilled or leaked, take the following steps:
* Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of
spill or
leak until clean-up is complete.
* Ventilate the area of spill or leak.
* Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material
and
deposit in sealed containers.
* Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe
manner and
deposit in sealed containers.
* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Malathion as a
HAZARDOUS
WASTE. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) or your
regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for
specific recommendations.
------------------------------------------------------------
FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire
department. You can
request emergency information from the following:
CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
NJDEPE HOTLINE: (609) 292-7172
Other:
------------------------------------------------------------
HANDLING AND STORAGE
* Prior to working with Malathion you should be trained on its proper
handling and storage.
* Malathion must be stored to avoid contact with STRONG
OXIDIZERS (such as
CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) since violent reactions
occur.
* Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated
UNINHABITED
area away from and below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C).
* Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are
prohibited where
Malathion is used, handled, or stored in a manner that could create
a
potential fire or explosion hazard.
* Only authorized, trained personnel should use or handle
Malathion.
* Malathion is corrosive to steel, iron, tin plate, lead, copper and
some
plastics.
FIRST AID
In NJ, POISON INFORMATION 1-800-962-1253
Other:
Eye Contact
* Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15
minutes,
occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention
immediately.
Skin Contact
* Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area
with large
amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
Shampoo
hair promptly if contaminated.
Breathing
* Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart
action
has stopped.
* Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
PHYSICAL DATA
Vapor Pressure: 0.00001 mm Hg at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C)
Flash Point: Greater than 325 degrees F (162.8 degrees C)
Water Solubility: Slightly soluble
OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES
Chemical Name:
Butanedioic Acid, (Dimethoxyphosphinothioyl)thio-, Diethyl Ester
Other Names:
Carbethoxy Malathion; Compound 4049; Malacide; Malatox; MLT
------------------------------------------------------------
Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes.
------------------------------------------------------------
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Right to Know Program
CN 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
(609) 984-2202
------------------------------------------------------------
MALATHION FACT SHEET
Excerpted from
Malathion Fact Sheet. Loretta Brenner.
Journal of Pesticide Reform, Volume 12, Number 4,
Winter 1992. Northwest Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene, OR
Contributing to its popularity is malathion's
relatively low acute mammalian toxicity. But like
DDT and other pesticides that have been found to
cause irreparable damage to human and environmental
health, malathion may pose a greater risk than the
product label would lead one to believe. Shown to
be mutagenic, a possible carcinogen, implicated in
vision loss, causing myriad negative health effects
in human and animal studies, damaging to nontarget
organisms, and containing highly toxic impurities,
malathion has a legacy of
serious problems.
. Investigation showed that
malathion was still evaporating from a wall where a
pesticide spill had occurred five years earlier.(6)
In California, where physicians make mandatory
reports of pesticide-related illnesses, malathion
was the third most frequently reported pesticide. Malathion
caused five times
more occupational illnesses, per pound sold, than
did the average pesticide.(1) (These data are based
on reports collected between 1981 and 1985.)
Exposure due to drift and overspray can also be
problematic, as is well illustrated by several
examples. A homeowner adjacent to a school in
Arizona sprayed his garden with malathion. The
spray drifted into the school ventilation system
and caused nearly 300 elementary school children to
be hospitalized with headaches, nausea, and
breathing difficulties.(7) During the 1990 medfly
eradication spray program in California, two
baseball diamonds were sprayed while children's
games were in progress. Most of those present
reported sumptoms, including headaches, sore throats,
irritated eyes, hives, rashes, and nausea.(8)
*MODE OF ACTION*
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide, one of
a class of pesticides that are highly toxic to
vertebrates and are chemically related to nerve
gases used during World War II.(10) Like all
organophosphate pesticides, malathion kills insects
and other animals, including humans, through its
effect on the nervous system. It inhibits an
enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), that breaks
down acetylcholine, a chemical essential in
transmitting nerve impulses across junctions
between nerves. Without functioning AChE,
acetylcholine accumulates, producing rapid
twitching of voluntary muscles, incoordination,
convulsions, paralysis, and ultimately death.(11)
Effects of AChE inhibition on nerve cells in the
brain appear to be particularly important.(12)
Malathion can also inhibit liver enzymes that
affect biological membrane function.(13)
The toxicity of malathion is compounded by its
metabolites and contaminants. Malaoxon, a
metabolite produced by the oxidation of malathion
in mammals, insects, plants, and in sunlight, is
the primary source of malathion's toxicity and is
40 times more acutely toxic than malathion.(14,15)
Over 11 chemical contaminants and analogues created
in the production process have been found in
technical malathion.(16,17) These chemicals can act
synergistically with malathion to potentiate
(increase) its toxicity. Some of these compounds
inhibit not only AChE,(18) but other enzymatic
systems in the liver that would typically detoxify
the contaminants.(15)
Malathion and malaoxon are more toxic to immature
than to adult rats, due to a slower rate of
inactivation of the insecticide in the livers of
immature animals.(14) Acute ToxicitySymptoms of
acute organophosphate poisoning in humans include
headaches, nausea, dizziness, salivation, tearing,
urination, diarrhea, convulsions, muscle weakness,
incoordination, abdominal cramps, blurred vision
and pupil constriction, slowed heart beat,
respiratory depression, paralysis, and coma.(19)
Other acute effects of malathion exposure include
skeletal muscle damage (after inhalation)(20)
and abnormal eye movement.(21) Inhalation of
malathion may be particularly hazardous.
In animal studies (rabbit and quail), inhalation of
malathion caused inhibition of AChE equivalent to
that caused by an oral dose 15 to 20 times
larger.(22) The acute oral LD50 of malathion (the
dose that kills 50 percent of a population of test
animals) varies between 1522 to 1945 milligrams per
kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) in rats.(1) If
humans are as sensitive, less than 5 ounces would
be fatal to a 70 kilogram human. Effects on skin
and eyes: Repeated exposure to malathion has caused
allergic responses in humans, guinea pigs, and
mice.(23,24) A single exposure to the skin of a 10
percent malathion solution induced contact
sensitization in almost half of human volunteer
subjects, and once sensitized, very weak dilutions
of malathion (1 ppm) would trigger skin
reactions.(23) Technical malathion is mildly
irritating to the eyes,(1) can cause temporary
visual disturbances,(25) and questions remain
regarding its ability to produce external eye
irritation.(25)
*SUBCHRONIC AND CHRONIC TOXICITY*
Physicians have described longer term effects of
malathion exposure in humans. For example, asphyxia
of a pesticide applicator under anesthesia during
an operation was associated with his exposure to
malathion.(26) An older man suffered acute kidney
failure after malathion exposure.(27) In laboratory
animals, malathion exposure has caused stomach
ulcers, testicular atrophy, chronic kidney
disease,(28) increased liver and kidney weights,
adverse gastrointestinal tract affects,(29) and
changes in the adrenal glands, liver, and blood
sugar levels.(30,31)
A nationwide study of flour mill employees found a
significant excess risk of developing non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma among employees of flour mills.(34) The
risk rose with increased duration of work.
Malathion is commonly used in flour mills for
insect control.The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
has studied the carcinogenicity of malathion and
malaoxon in rats and mice. An independent review of
this study found benign and malignant tumors of the
endocrine glands, brain, liver, lung, and
blood.(28) Liver neoplasms were found in mice.(28)
An EPA toxicologist also found evidence of thyroid
tumors in rats and liver tumors in mice.(35) Dr.
Brian Dementi, another toxicologist with EPA,
concurred and "found that the NCI study indicates a
positive oncogenic response."
*MUTAGENICITY*
Malathion is mutagenic (causing genetic damage) in
human, animal, and bacteria cells. Frequencies of
chromosomal aberrations were significantly higher
in cotton field workers exposed to malathion and
other pesticides.(38,39) (The design of the study
did not permit conclusions about a specific
chemical.) Increased chromosome breaks and
aberrations occurred following acute malathion
human poisonings(40) and in human blood cells
exposed to malathion.(41,42) Malathion caused
sister-chromatid exchanges (exchanges of genetic
material within a pair of chromosomes) in human
blood cells(41-44) and fetal cells.(45) Malathion
has also caused mutations in laboratory animals,
including mice and hamsters,(46-49) and induced DNA
breakage in the bacteria Escherichia coli.(50)
In some cases malathion induced genetic damage at
doses far below acutely toxic levels (45,51) and
effects can be cumulative.(45) Birth DefectsIn
humans, maternal exposure to malathion during early
pregnancy possibly caused an almost total absence
of skeletal muscle in a developing fetus.(52) The
mother had repeatedly used a hair lotion containing
malathion for treatment of lice. In the San
Francisco Bay area, a two-year study examined the
relationship between aerial sprays of malathion for
medfly and the occurrence of congenital anomalies
and low birth weights. The researchers found no
definitive associations, but they also admit to
limitations in the data and analysis. However, they
did find positive associations between malathion
exposure in individual years and increases in ear
anomalies, bowing of leg bones, clubfoot, and other
deformities.(53)
Malathion has also been associated with birth
defects in domestic and laboratory animals. In
rabbits, malathion crosses the placenta and acts on
the central nervous system.(54) Injection of
malathion into the yolk sac of chicken eggs caused
reduced growth and weakening of a leg bone,(55)
increased production of insulin,(56) reduced chick
weights, reduced hatch, short legs, bleached down,
nerve damage two to six weeks after hatching,(57)
sparse plumage, limb shortening, growth reduction,
and beak defects.(58) Reproductive Effects
Juvenile male rats exposed to daily doses of
malathion
had decreased numbers of sperm-forming
cells.(59,60) In two rat teratology studies,
maternal exposure to malathion reduced pup weights,
increased the incidence of hemorrhagic spots on the
backs of pups, and decreased weight gain of the
mothers.(25) Doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day of
malathion caused pregnant rabbits to have reduced
maternal weight gain and greater increases of fetal
resorptions (dead fetuses absorbed into the mother,
not aborted); statistically significant increases
in maternal deaths occurred at all doses.(25) A two
generation study of male and female rats exposed to
malathion yielded offspring that weighed less than
the controls, and had increased susceptibility to
ring-tail disease.(61) In sheep, malathion exposure
of pregnant ewes resulted in an increase in aborted
fetuses, still births, low birth weight babies.
Longer duration and earlier initiation of malathion
exposure resulted in more severe problems.(62)
*EFFECTS ON VISION*
Between 1957 and 1971 Japanese school children
experienced a tremendous increase in cases of
myopia (nearsightedness), that correlated with the
increased use of organophosphate insecticides,
including malathion.(63) In 1969, 98 percent of the
children examined from Saku, an agricultural area
where malathion was regularly applied, had reduced
visual keenness. Other examples of what is now
called 'Saku disease' in both children and adults
were reported throughout Japan where
organophosphate pesticides were applied. In
California, a lawsuit is pending on behalf of a 15
year old boy who was declared legally blind after
being outside while helicopters were spraying
malathion. An ophthalmologist and a pesticide
expert both agree that the boy may have Saku
disease.(64)
*DIETARY EFFECTS*
Repeated exposures to malathion produce toxic
effects in the liver regardless of an animal's
nutritional status, but malnourished rats,
especially those on low protein diets, are more
susceptible to the negative effects of
malathion.(13,65-69) Malathion was two to three
times more acutely toxic to rats on a low protein
diet.(70) This is due, at least in part, to the
malnourished liver's decreased ability to detoxify
malathion. According to the researchers, '...people
sustaining on nutritionally inadequate diets may be
more prone to the toxic effects of these pesticides
as compared to those having nutritional
adequacy,'(69) and they advise assessing the
nutritional status of a community prior to
exposure.(69) Behavioral EffectsMalathion blocked
the ability of rats to learn to climb a pole when a
buzzer sounded.(71) Learning to avoid a cage that
gave rats electrical shocks, and the ability to
remember this behavior, was also impaired by
malathion.(72,73) In one study, this impairment
occurred within one hour after exposure without
significant inhibition of AChE activity.(73)
*IMMUNE SYSTEM EFFECTS*
Eradication programs for pests such as mosquitoes
and fruit flies expose thousands of people to
malathion applied in aerial applications. These
type of pesticide applications often provoke
complaints of allergic reactions and flu-like
symptoms.(8,25,74) In laboratory animals, oral
doses of purified malathion disrupted immune system
function in mice at levels far below the dose
required to cause cholinesterase inhibition.(75)
This work suggests that malathion can cause
sensitization and allergic reactions in humans and
animals.
present in technical malathion can
further disrupt immune system function.(76-78)
These immune system effects may have serious human
health implications. Stimulation of immune
responses may increase allergic reactions and also
cause tissue damage.(77,78) Immunosuppression may
enhance susceptibility of mammalian systems to
bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection or
possible increased tumor formation.(77) Changes in
immune system functions in animals exposed to
impurities in malathion may also trigger lung
damage.(79) Both malathion and the impurities in
malathion can directly affect one immune system
function that creates risks for individuals with
liver damage.(80)
ITS A PITY I DONT HAVE THE REFERENCES FOR THE
SECOND DOCUMENT...
DOES ANYONE HAVE THEM????????
NEW YORK (AP) - Thousands of acres in New York City have
been sprayed
with insecticide after more people were suspected of being infected
with St. Louis Encephalitis, a virus spread by mosquitos.
Helicopters
were used Monday to spray the pesticide malathion in parts of the
Bronx and Queens. Since the outbreak was reported last week, two
elderly people in Queens have died from the disease and three other
cases have been confirmed, officials said. Those three victims were
in serious condition but showed signs of improvement. In all, 37
people are now suspected of having the viral infection, which had
not
been found in the New York metropolitan area before the current
outbreak. See
NOTICE
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BTW
.....word of posting of the official, but classified, Agent
Orange report by Veterans Affairs. I don't know whether this was
posted
before, or how long it's been up. It looks authentic, and was
apparently
authored by x in 1990.
The link is http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ao.html
PGP 5.5.5