Lexi Webster
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide used in agriculture, residential landscaping, and public health pest control programs. It is also used to treat head lice and body lice. While it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, it has been classified by the IARC as a probable carcinogen. In Australia, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) regulates the use of malathion. While it is not banned, the APVMA has implemented several regulations and restrictions on its use, including prohibiting direct application to water due to risks to aquatic species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Malathion banned in Australia? | No |
| Malathion's other names | Maldison, Carbophos, Mercaptothion |
| Malathion's use in Australia | Insecticide, acaricide, lice treatment |
| Regulatory body | Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) |
| Regulatory decision | Retain Malathion as an insecticide and acaricide for use in domestic, agricultural, and veterinary situations |
| Regulatory changes | Change of name from Maldison to Malathion, removal of uses to control mosquito larvae, prohibition of direct application to water, updated instructions for use, and more |
| Phase-out period | 2 years |
| Review process | Toxicology, chemistry, work health and safety, human health |
| Health risks | Low toxicity, but can be toxic to leopard frog tadpoles, probable carcinogen, associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma |
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What You'll Learn
- Malathion is not banned in Australia, but its use is regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
- APVMA has varied and affirmed malathion active constituent approvals, chemical product registrations, and associated label approvals
- Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide widely used in agriculture, residential landscaping, and public health pest control programs
- It is classified as a probable carcinogen by the IARC and has shown to cause tumors in rats and mice at high doses
- Malathion is of low toxicity, but its breakdown product, malaoxon, is substantially more toxic and has been shown to be 61 times more toxic in rat studies
Malathion is not banned in Australia, but its use is regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
Malathion is not banned in Australia. However, its use is regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). The APVMA has published guidelines for the use of malathion, an insecticide used for pest control in crops, vegetables, ornamental plants, and for veterinary and domestic uses.
The APVMA's regulations include considerations of active constituents, chemical products, and associated labels. The authority has affirmed the use of malathion while implementing variations to its regulations. These include changing the name of the active constituent from 'maldison' to 'malathion' for consistency with ISO 1750-1981. Additionally, the direct application of malathion to water for mosquito control has been prohibited due to risks to aquatic species.
The APVMA has also updated instructions for using malathion, including protection statements, restraints, spray drift buffer zones, re-entry and withholding periods, safety directions, and storage conditions. A 2-year phase-out period was announced for malathion products with previously approved labels. Following this period, these products must be supplied with new labels that include updated instructions.
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide that acts as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. While it has low toxicity, its metabolism in the human body can lead to the production of malaoxon, which is substantially more toxic. Studies have indicated that indoor spillage of malathion can be particularly harmful as it breaks down into malaoxon in confined spaces.
The use of malathion in Australia is regulated by the APVMA to ensure its safe and appropriate use in various applications, including agriculture, pest control, and veterinary medicine.
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APVMA has varied and affirmed malathion active constituent approvals, chemical product registrations, and associated label approvals
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has published the final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of malathion, an insecticide used for pest control in crops, vegetables, and ornamental plants, as well as for veterinary and domestic uses. Malathion, also known as maldison, has been the subject of a comprehensive review process by the APVMA.
As a result of this review, the APVMA has decided to vary and affirm malathion active constituent approvals, chemical product registrations, and associated label approvals. This decision includes consideration of all current active constituents, chemical products, and associated labels. The variations implemented by the APVMA are designed to address specific concerns and update relevant guidelines.
One key variation is the change in the name of the active constituent from 'maldison' to 'malathion', aligning with the nomenclature specified in ISO 1750-1981. This harmonisation in terminology ensures consistency and clarity in the identification of the active constituent. Additionally, the APVMA has removed the use of malathion products for controlling mosquito larvae and prohibited their direct application to water. This decision is based on the potential risks posed to aquatic species.
The APVMA has also updated the instructions for use, encompassing protection statements, restraints, spray drift buffer zones, re-entry and withholding periods, safety directions, and storage conditions. These updates are intended to provide clear guidelines for the safe and effective use of malathion products. Furthermore, the APVMA has determined a 2-year phase-out period for malathion products bearing previously approved labels. Following this transition period, these products must be supplied with updated labels that reflect the revised instructions.
The APVMA's decision is based on a comprehensive assessment of the underlying risk evaluations, as outlined in the final malathion Review Technical Report. This report also includes the APVMA's consideration of submissions received during the public consultation period. The regulatory authority's decision provides a framework for the continued use of malathion while addressing relevant safety and environmental concerns.
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Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide widely used in agriculture, residential landscaping, and public health pest control programs
Malathion is a pesticide that is used to control pests in various broadacre and horticultural crops, vegetables, and ornamental plants. It is also used for veterinary and domestic purposes. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has recently published the final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of malathion. The decision includes a 2-year phase-out period for malathion products with previously approved labels. After this period, these products must be supplied with new labels that contain updated instructions.
Malathion is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which means it interferes with the normal function of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in nerve signal transmission. By inhibiting this enzyme, malathion leads to a rapid buildup of acetylcholine at the synapse, disrupting the normal nervous system function of the target organism. This results in the insect's death. While malathion is of relatively low toxicity, its metabolism in the human body can lead to the production of malaoxon, which is substantially more toxic.
The use of malathion has been associated with certain health and environmental risks. It is classified by the IARC as a probable carcinogen (Group 2A) due to evidence of liver tumors in mice and female rats exposed to excessive doses. Exposure to organophosphates, including malathion, has also been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Additionally, malathion is considered a toxic pollutant, impacting food quality, biodiversity, human health, and the environment. As a result, there is ongoing research into developing sensitive and rapid detection technologies for malathion to enhance health protection and environmental risk assessment.
While malathion has been an important tool in pest control, its usage and approval are being re-evaluated in light of potential risks. The APVMA's regulatory decision for malathion in Australia reflects this, aiming to balance its continued use with updated instructions and precautions to mitigate potential adverse effects.
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It is classified as a probable carcinogen by the IARC and has shown to cause tumors in rats and mice at high doses
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide widely used in agriculture, residential landscaping, public recreation areas, and public health pest control programs such as mosquito eradication. It is also used to treat head lice and body lice. While it is of low toxicity, absorption or ingestion of malathion can result in its metabolism to malaoxon, which is substantially more toxic.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified malathion as a probable carcinogen (Group 2A). This classification was based on studies showing that exposure to high doses of malathion caused liver tumors in mice and female rats and rare oral and nasal tumors in rats. Specifically, the occurrence of these tumors was observed following exposure to excessive and very large doses.
The carcinogenic effects of malathion have been further evaluated in combination with other chemicals. For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has classified malathion as having "suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity". This assessment considered the potential carcinogenic effects of malathion when used as a fumigant, with no increased cancer risk associated with this use. Additionally, between 1993 and 1997, the Agricultural Health Study reported no clear association between malathion exposure and cancer.
In Australia, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is responsible for regulating malathion. The APVMA has published a final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of malathion, including changes to the instructions for use, protection statements, restraints, and storage conditions. The APVMA's decision considers all active constituents, chemical products, and associated labels, with a focus on protecting human health, aquatic species, pollinators, livestock, and natural environments.
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Malathion is of low toxicity, but its breakdown product, malaoxon, is substantially more toxic and has been shown to be 61 times more toxic in rat studies
Malathion is a widely used organophosphate insecticide. It is used for the control of pests in various crops, vegetables, and ornamental plants, as well as in veterinary and domestic uses. Malathion is also used in public health pest control programs such as mosquito eradication and fruit fly eradication programs. It is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of head and body lice.
Malathion is of low toxicity. However, its breakdown product, malaoxon, is substantially more toxic. In arthropods, malathion is metabolized into malaoxon, which is a more potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Studies in rats have shown that malathion is rapidly absorbed, biotransformed, and eliminated from the body in three to five days.
The toxicity of malathion and malaoxon has been the subject of extensive study and reporting. In rat studies, it was found that malaoxon is 61 times more toxic than malathion, and 1,000 times more potent in terms of its acetylcholinesterase inhibition. This means that indoor spillage of malathion can be more dangerous than expected, as malathion breaks down into the more toxic malaoxon in a confined space.
In studies of the effects of low doses of malathion on male rats, it was found that there were minimal histopathological changes in rats treated for 24 hours. However, multiple histopathological changes were reported in rats treated for 21 days, including focal hepatocellular necrosis, chronic pyelonephritis, cerebral malaria, interstitial pneumonia, and testicular degeneration. These findings highlight the importance of research into the chronic toxicity of malathion, as most people and animals are exposed to low concentrations of the chemical.
While malathion has been classified as a probable carcinogen, studies have shown conflicting results regarding its cancer-causing effects. Some studies have found that exposure to high doses of malathion in rats and mice led to the development of liver cancer. However, other studies, including one that fed rats malathion for up to two years, found no evidence of increased cancer risk associated with malathion exposure.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Malathion is not banned in Australia. It is an insecticide used for the control of pests in various crops, vegetables, and ornamental plants, and for veterinary and domestic uses.
The APVMA has decided to vary and affirm Malathion active constituent approvals, chemical product registrations, and associated label approvals. The variations include changing the name of the active constituent from 'Maldison' to 'Malathion', removing uses to control mosquito larvae, prohibiting direct application to water, and updating instructions for use.
The APVMA's decision aims to regulate the use of Malathion due to potential risks associated with the chemical. The decision includes considerations of all current active constituents, chemical products, and associated labels, as well as risk assessments.
The APVMA's decision includes a 2-year phase-out period for Malathion products with previously approved labels. After this period, these products must be supplied with new labels containing updated instructions. The decision was published in an APVMA Special Gazette on November 22, 2022, and submissions were invited until February 23, 2023.
