Unknown Risks of Malathion

University of South Florida

Perhaps what is more disturbing about malathion (and other chemicals as well) is not what is actually known about the health effects from the chemical, but rather, what is not known. It is important for the public to understand that although chemical companies spend millions of dollars and several years testing their chemicals, the testing protocols they use are dangerously incomplete.

Let's correct several common misunderstandings. First, the EPA does not test malathion. EPA only sets up the guidelines for the testing. The chemical companies then conduct their own tests and submit the results to EPA for review (foxes guarding the hen house?). In fact, there have been occurrences in the past, such as with Industrial Bio-Test Labs, in which falsified and fraudulent data was submitted to EPA. (Remember, there is extreme financial gain to be made from registration of a chemical).

The primary tests EPA required for malathion include:

• LD-50 (the amount needed to kill 50% of the test animals)
• Tests for major organ damage
• Tests for delayed neurotoxicity in a hen after a single dose
• Skin hypersensitivity tests
• Physical birth defects
• Cancer Risk

These tests, however, are seriously inadequate. For example, EPA has been stating for years that they would require more detailed tests for effects upon the immune and nervous system. However, to date, these requirements have not been implemented. Below are examples of effects that could very well be occurring from malathion and other pesticides - but which there is just no information. In other words, this provides an excellent example of chemical Russian Roulette with the American people.

• Learning Disabilities in math, reading, etc.
• Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.)
• Hyperactivity
• Mild mental retardation?
• Lower IQ
• Language or speech delays (found highly vulnerable to low level chemical exposure)
• Short term memory damage
• Tests of all personality facets including:
  • Aggression
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • I ncreased emotionality
• Decreased head circumference in offspring (suggesting reduced brain cell growth)
• Damage to the blood brain barrier (which functions to block toxic chemicals from entering the brain and has been found weaker in psychiatric and Alzheimer's patients)
• Increase infertility or miscarriage
• Alter hormones involved in defining sexuality (as occurs with pesticide chlordane)
• Lower sperm count (linked to increases in genetic flaws in sperm DNA)
• Slower sperm movement
• Autoimmunity - renegade immune cells which attack the body by mistake causing rheumatoid arthritis and over 40 other diseases.
• Lower the number of immune system cells - thereby increasing risk of infection
• Slow the movement of immune system cells - thereby increasing risk of infection
• Weaken ability of immune system cells to locate bacteria, viruses, etc. - thereby increasing risk of infection
• Weaken the ability of immune system cells to produce interferon, interleukins and other natural compounds essential to stimulate the body's infection fighting capability - thereby increasing risk of infection
• Weaken the ability of immune system cells (such as natural killer cells) to locate cancer cells and efficiently remove them
  Increase risk of asthma - as has been found to occur with other pesticides
• Increase risk of allergies
• Reduce the efficiency of our DNA repair process - thereby accelerating aging
• Complete all of these tests on second generation offspring to look for true long term subtle genetic effects

Each of the above "unknown effects" are listed here for a reason. The reason being that all of the above effects have been found to occur after exposure to other pesticides and chemicals when tested by various university research programs. Of great concern, the amount of chemical exposure required to cause the above effects is many times lower than the amount required to cause cancer, birth defects, organ damage or other major effects. (This may be one of several reasons the tests are not added to the protocols of chemical testing requirements). If you would like to review our website that addresses the potential for extremely low levels of chemicals to damage the developing unborn child - please visit Behavioral Toxicology
http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/research/index.htm

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