EPA is making a draft malathion human health risk assessment available. For this draft risk assessment, EPA considered exposures from all sources, including food, drinking water, and insect sprays. In addition, EPA considered all populations including infants, children, and women of child-bearing age.
The public comment period for the draft human health risk assessment will be open until Dec. 21.
Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide and is used in USDA’s Fruit Fly (Medfly) Control Program, for control against spotted wing drosophila, and by mosquito control districts around the U.S. for mosquito-borne disease control. Less than 1% of spraying for mosquitoes is malathion aerial spray.