Malathion has been used for public health pest control programs since 1956. “In 1956 it was registered for use in the United States as an insecticide” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2006), “When applied in accordance with the rate of application and safety precautions specified on the label, Malathion can be used to kill mosquitoes without posing unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. Malathion is used to kill adult mosquitoes. Malathion is applied as an ultra-low volume (ULV) spray. This ULV spray dispenses a very fine mist of the insecticide over the treated area; it stays in the air and kills the mosquitoes. The application is done by a sprayer from a truck or an aircraft.
Does Malathion pose a risk to the human population? “Malathion can be used for public health mosquito control programs without posing unreasonable risks to the general population when applied according to the label” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). A very small amount of Malathion is used during ULV and ground applications therefore, the risk to adults and children are nominal. The amount used by this application does not pose a health concern for humans. From the research that I have done I believe that we should use Malathion to treat the infestation of mosquitoes that our town has been experiencing. If we apply the pesticide according to the label and use an ultra-low volume spray the risks to humans is too low not to consider the use of Malathion. I would also suggest that we spray the pesticide during the evening hours when most residents will be inside their homes. I suggest this because Malathion can be breathed into the body after the application has been sprayed. If we tell the residents what time we will be spraying and suggest that they remain inside until the next morning their risk of exposure will be minimized. According to the Center for Disease Control (2003),...