Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
The city council has been presented with a proposal regarding the use of the pesticide
Malathion within the city limits of Genericville. This proposal has been brought forth due
to the diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as West Nile Virus (WNV). It is the duty of
the City Council members of Genericville to make an informed decision that is in the best
interest of the residents of Genericville, the city council members, as well as the summer
Due to an enlarged mosquito breeding area after a season of heavy rainfall, recent
studies have been performed in our wetlands. There are projections that there could be 50
cases of WNV in Genericville this year with two fatalities. With a population of 100,000,
this would mean that one out of every 2,000 people will likely become infected this year
without the use of pesticides. The Malathion pesticide program could reduce the number
of cases from 50 to five, with less than a 20% chance of a fatality. These numbers are too
significant to ignore.
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) states that the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have
approved the use of Malathion on crops, in gardens, and in residential areas where
mosquitoes are a problem. Additionally, Malathion has been used on humans for the
treatment of head lice (2003). According to the EPA, “Malathion can be used for public
health mosquito control programs without posing unreasonable risks to the general
The next area of consideration was the harmful effects Malathion may have on
humans that have been exposed. The ATSDR mentioned that people exposed to
Malathion levels no higher than that allowed by the FDA and the EPA have been found
Risk Assessment 3
to experience few or no health problems as a result of exposure (2003). Findings from the
ATSDR also suggest that, “Malathion and its metabolites do not tend to accumulate in
the body, and leave mostly in your urine within a few days” (2003). Those mildly
affected by the spraying will likely be the people that live or work near the areas being
At this time, there is no sufficient evidence that Malathion causes cancer in humans.
There also is no evidence that Malathion exposure is responsible for any human birth
defects. There is also no evidence showing that this pesticide affects the ability to
reproduce.
higher doses. If a person who has been exposed to high amounts of Malathion receives
proper treatment in a timely manner, they are likely to have a full recovery. It is my belief
that these issues can be avoided by offering the community education programs and
Chemical sprayers can wear protective clothing, and use breathing equipment while
spraying. Signs can be posted, and the public can be alerted weeks before spraying
begins. Spraying can take place late at night, when most people are asleep. This should
pose only a slight inconvenience on those who may be affected by the spraying.
There is also the concern that summer tourism could be affected if the mosquito
infestation continues. It is believed by the community that if measures are not taken to
control the mosquito population, the Genericville population will suffer economically, as
In regard to the Generic River that runs through town, according to the ATSDR
(2003), “in water, Malathion breaks down quickly by the action of the water and the
bacteria in the water.” Therefore, it is unlikely that the river will be contaminated with
high doses of Malathion that may be harmful to humans or animals. This would also
vote to approve the application program, and begin implementing the use of Malathion in
Genericville. My evaluation has been done according to the four steps of risk assessment,
and it is my belief that the potential risks to the community are relatively low, and can be
avoided by taking the precautions mentioned above; therefore, the benefits of using the
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2003). Public Health Statement for
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs154.html,
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2005). Toxicologic information
about insecticides used for eradicating mosquitoes. Malathion (CAS Number 121-75-
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/west_nile_virus/ Malathion.html
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/malathion4mosquitoes.htm