Malathion
Malathion is an organophosphate (OP) insecticide that has been registered for use in the United States since 1956. It is used:
- in the agricultural production of a wide variety of food and feed crops to control many types of insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and Japanese beetles;
- in the USDA’s Cotton Boll Weevil Eradication Program and Fruit Fly (Medfly) Control Program;
- by home gardeners for outdoor residential uses including vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and a variety of ornamentals; and
- in public health pest control programs for controlling mosquito-borne illnesses.
Learn more about malathion and its use in mosquito control:
- How is malathion used in mosquito control?
- Do malathion products used for mosquito control pose risks to human health?
- Are there any special precautions that the public should take during malathion spraying?
- What other measures should be taken to control mosquitoes besides aerial spraying?
- What are the next steps?
- How is malathion used in mosquito control?
Malathion is part of an integrated overall strategy to control mosquitoes. In particular, malathion is an adulticide, used to kill adult mosquitoes. Most malathion mosquito adulticide applications (about 90%) are made by ground application (fogging equipment mounted on trucks). However, in situations of heavy mosquito presence across large geographic areas, aerial application is an important method of application. Less than 1% of spraying for mosquitoes is malathion aerial spray.
- Do malathion products used for mosquito control pose health risks to humans?
No. The 2024 draft human health risk assessment did not identify any human health risks of concern for malathion use for mosquito control.
- Are there any special precautions to be taken during malathion spraying?
EPA is confident that aerial application is safe. To reduce exposures even further, parents and caretakers may choose to keep young children inside on the day that spraying is taking place.
Some people who are especially concerned may choose to take some of these steps to help reduce exposure even more. This may include people who are sensitive to chemicals and those with pre-existing respiratory problems.-
Stay indoors with the windows closed.
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If you are outdoors during spraying operations and you can see the spray, avoid contact with it. If you can’t avoid contact, rinse your skin and eyes with water.
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Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden before storing, cooking or eating.
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Cover outside items like furniture and grills while the spraying is occurring. Bring pets and items like pet food dishes and children’s toys indoors.
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If you think you have had a reaction to the mosquito spray, talk to your doctor or call the regional Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
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- What other measures should be taken to control mosquitoes besides aerial spraying?
Aerial spraying is the one method of pest control that can rapidly reduce the number of mosquitoes that can be carrying diseases (including Zika virus, West Nile Virus, and dengue) over a large area in a relatively short period of time; however, aerial spraying is not the only method EPA and CDC are recommending to control mosquito populations.
Find more ways to control mosquitoes and prevent mosquito bites.
Read about using integrated pest management to control mosquito populations. - What are the next steps?
The Agency will be accepting public comments for 60 days on the malathion PID and the human health and ecological DRAs that were released in March 2024. The PID, DRAs, and supporting documents can be found in the public docket at www.regulations.gov in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0317.