Malathion Project

Malathion

Introduction

The problem of Genericville City about mosquitoes does not just involve health but also economy . Since the city is highly dependent on summer tourism , mosquitoes and diseases that they carry could adversely affect their source of income . It endangers not only lives of the residents and the tourists but also non-human inhabitants of the place . A particular disease , West Nile Virus , threatens to have significant number of incidence and fatalities this year . This is why a mosquito control program using Malathion as pesticide could be useful . However , long-term

effects of the chemical are of question for the opponents of the pesticide application

Literature Review

The ways of controlling mosquito population is divided into two , the chemical and non-chemical ways . According to United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] (2007 , the first step that governments usually take is surveillance of larval habitats and diseases acquired . For non-chemical approach , the goal is to prevent breeding of mosquitoes done through eliminating small breeding sites , controlling water levels in potential breeding sites and having fishes that feed on larvae . The chemical method involves the use of pesticides . EPA (2007 ) elaborates that the pesticide may be larvacides like bacteria , growth inhibitor oils and films , killing the larva before turning to adult mosquito or an adulticide , killing mosquitoes in adult form by spraying , one of which is malathion

Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide (EPA , 2006 ) that is not naturally occurring , thus , exists in the environment only when manufactured or used (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR] , 2005 . Through ultra-low volume (ULV ) spray , which uses about 2 .5 fluid ounces of active ingredient per acre , fine aerosol droplets get in contact with and kill adult mosquitoes with minimum exposure (St Charles County Government , 2007

Risk Analysis

Hazard Identification

Exposure to malathion usually occurs through oral , dermal and inhalation routes . This chemical is a cholinesterase inhibitor , at the lowest doses tested in chronic studies , that targets the nervous system (EPA , 2006 , pp 8 . When it is transformed through indirect photolysis (ATSDR , 2005 , or chlorination in water treatment (EPA , 2006 , pp 20 , it could break down into a more potent cholinesterase inhibitor , malaoxon According to Pluth et al (1996 , two studies using mammals showed results that malathion causes gene mutation , one involving rats proved it has teratogenic effects , and in humans had genotoxic effects However , the EPA (2006 , pp 8 ) reports that the available evidence in the literature and studies do not support the supposed mutagenic effects of malathion . Carcinogenic effect is still not certain , but several studies provide evidence that exposure to excessive doses may cause occurrence of tumors . So , the Agency classified it as a suggestive carcinogen (EPA 2006 , pp 15 . Acute /short-term effects mentioned are eye and dermal irritation , but malathion still has low acute toxicity . However , ATSDR (2005 ) holds that overexposure to large amounts of the chemical could cause difficulty breathing , chest tightness , vomiting , cramps , diarrhea watery eyes , blurred vision , salivation , sweating , headaches , dizziness loss of consciousness , and death . But when provided...