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You are here: NPIC Home Page Pesticide Ingredients Active Ingredients Malathion

Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide. It interferes with the nervous system by blocking an enzyme that normally acts as an off switch by ending the signal. Without the enzyme, the nerve keeps firing and eventually the nervous system fails. Malathion is used both in agricultural and residential settings.

General Questions about Malathion

What is malathion? What are some products that contain malathion? How does malathion work? How might I be exposed to malathion What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to malathion? What happens to malathion when it enter the body? Is malathion likely to contribute to the development of cancer? Has anyone studied non-cancer effects from long-term exposure to malathion? Are children more sensitive to malathion than adults? What happens to malathion in the environment? Can malathion affect birds, fish, and other wildlife?

General Fact Sheet

Biomarkers of Exposure: Organophosphates Medical Case Profile

Pesticides: Testing for Exposure Using the Clinical Laboratory Medical Case Profile

If you have questions about malathion, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Related Topics:

What are pests?

What are pesticides?

Please read our disclaimer | Contact us | About NPIC | En español

NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (cooperative agreement #X8-83947901). The information in this publication does not in any way replace or supersede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. EPA.