Malathion

CAS number: 121–75–5

NIOSH REL: 10 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 15 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: 10 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

Description of substance: Deep-brown to yellow liquid with a garlic-like odor.

LEL: . . Unknown

Original (SCP) IDLH: 5,000 mg/m³

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No useful data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base the IDLH for malathion. The chosen IDLH, therefore, has been estimated from the statement by Stolman [1969] that the acute oral LD₅₀ values for mice and rats range from 480 to 5,800 mg/kg.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50	LCLo	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)	Derived value
Cat	Izmerov et al. 1982	-----	10 mg/m3	4 hr	20 mg/m3 (2.0)	20 mg/m3 (2.0)
Rat	Sapegin & Mikhailov 1986	84.6 mg/m3	-----	4 hr	169 mg/m3 (2.0)	17 mg/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Rat	Izmerov et al. 1982	oral	290	-----	2,030 mg/m3	203 mg/m3
Mouse	Izmerov et al. 1982	oral	190	-----	1,330 mg/m3	133 mg/m3
G. pig	von Dozent et al. 1955	oral	570	-----	3,990 mg/m3	399 mg/m3

Human data: Workers exposed to initial concentrations up to 85 mg/m³ for 1 hour (that may have declined rapidly) over 42 consecutive days suffered no adverse effects [Golz 1959]. Workers exposed to concentrations that peaked at 56 mg/m³ and averaged 3.3 mg/m³ for 5 hours had normal cholinesterase levels [Culver et al. 1956]. A lethal oral dose of 246 to 471 mg/kg has been reported [Farago 1967; Jusic and Milic 1978]. [Note: An oral dose of 246 to 471 mg/kg is equivalent to a 70-kg worker being exposed to about 11,500 to 22,100 mg/m³ for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]

Revised IDLH: 250 mg/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for malathion is 250 mg/m3 based on acute toxicity data in humans [Farago 1967; Golz 1959; Jusic and Milic 1978].

REFERENCES:

1. Culver D, Caplan P, Batchelor GS [1956]. Study of human exposure during aerosol application of malathion and chlorthion. AMA Arch Ind Health 13:37-50.

2. Farago A [1967]. Fatal, suicidal malathion poisonings. Arch Toxikol 23:11-16 (in German).

3. Golz HH [1959]. Controlled human exposures to malathion aerosols. AMA Arch Ind Health 19:516-523.

4. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 56.

5. Jusic A, Milic S [1978]. Neuromuscular synapse testing in two cases of suicidal organophosphorous pesticide poisoning. Arch Environ Health 33:240-243.

6. Sapegin DE, Mikhailov VV [1986]. Combined effect of carbophos, high temperature and an excess of ultraviolet radiation. Gig Sanit 51(3):73-75 (in Russian)

7. Stolman A, ed. [1969]. Progress in chemical toxicology. Vol. 4. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc., p. 213.

8. von Dozent J, Klimmer OR, Pfaff W [1955]. Vergleichende untersuchungen über die toxicität organischer thiophosphorsäureester. Arzneimittel-Forschung (Drug Research) 5:626-630 (in German).