Risk Assessment

Malathion Risk Assessment : Why the Genericville City Council Should Vote No

to Malathion-based Mosquito Eradication Program

Results of the risk assessment of the proposed use of Malathion for Genericville City 's mosquito eradication program support the decision for a negative vote for the proposal . The decision to refuse the proposal was reached after a careful examination of benefits that could be produced by the program on the one hand , and by the risks that it could present to the residents of Genericville . An analysis of the implications of the program on

the economic , political , and social aspects also reveal that the negative effects of the proposal outweigh the possible positive effects in terms of the main source of livelihood and productivity of the citizens

Since Malathion interferes directly with normal nerve and brain functioning , exposure to the substance can cause difficulty breathing chest tightness , vomiting , cramps , diarrhea , blurred vision , sweating headaches , dizziness , loss of consciousness , and in extreme cases , death (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry , 2005 . There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that Malathion increases the likelihood of developing cancer in humans or birth defects . In the same manner , the effects of the substance on children and on newborn babies are not known although it can be ingested by newborns from their mother 's milk and can be passed on by the mother to the developing fetus

The symptoms and adverse health affects associated with Malathion have been observed after exposure to high levels of Malathion in air , water or food . There have been no symptoms to suggest adverse effects from exposure to substance levels below that could affect nerve and brain functioning . According to federal standards , adults should not be exposed to more than 0 .1 milligrams of Malathion per liter of drinking water in their lifetime . Likewise , a concentration above 15 milligrams of Malathion per cubic meter of air would pose enough health hazards to humans (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry , 2005

Using Malathion for the city 's mosquito control program would expose the residents to levels of the substance beyond federal standards for a short period of time due to the proximity of the target treatment area to residential and commercial districts of the city . The manner in which the substance will be applied to eradicate mosquito , which is through extensive aerial spraying and ground application , would therefore increase the risk of air , water , and food contamination from substance particles and its residue

It is also clear that residents living nearest the river and wetlands would have the highest risk of exposure from the aerial spraying and ground application of Malathione . Thus , they are also the ones who would be most vulnerable to the adverse health effects of the substance . On the other hand , those who live far from the area of Malathion application may still be exposed from the substance through water and air contamination since it takes a few days before Malathion can be

Clearly , the proposed method and the...