Malathion (IARC Summary & Evaluation, Volume 30, 1983)

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

MALATHION

VOL.: 30 (1983) (p. 103)

CAS No.: 121-75-5
Chem. Abstr. Name: Butanedioic acid,[(dimethoxyphosphinothioyl)thio]-, diethyl ester

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Experimental data

Malathion and its metabolite malaoxon were tested for carcinogenicity in mice and rats by administration in the diet. No evidence of carcinogenicity was found.

There was no evidence of teratogenicity or embryotoxicity in rats given maternally tolerated doses of malathion during pregnancy. In animals fed very high doses for two generations, malathion had no effect on reproduction other than to decrease survival in the first generation and to reduce growth in the second generation of rats.

Malathion was not mutagenic in most studies of bacteria or in two studies of yeast. No mutagenic action was observed in Drosophila melanogaster. Malathion increased sister chromatid exchange frequency in cultured mammalian cells but did not induce unscheduled DNA synthesis. Chromosomal aberrations were increased in certain types of cultured mammalian cells and in mice treated in vivo with malathion. Dominant lethal tests in mice were reported to be negative. There is thus limited evidence for the mutagenicity of malathion.

5.2 Human data

Malathion was introduced in 1950. Its production, formulation and widespread use as an insecticide in a variety of agricultural, vector control and household applications are potential sources of exposure, both of workers and of the general population.

No data were available to evaluate the teratogenic effects of malathion in humans. The available data were insufficient to evaluate the chromosomal effects of malathion in humans.

No case report or epidemiological study of the carcinogenicity of malathion alone was available to the Working Group. (See, however, the section 'Cancer Epidemiology of Pesticide Manufacturers, Formulators and Users', in this volume.)

5.3 Evaluation

The available data do not provide evidence that malathion or its metabolite malaoxon is carcinogenic to experimental animals. No data on humans were available.

The available data provide no evidence that malathion is likely to present a carcinogenic risk to humans.

Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987) (p. 62: Group 3)

Synonyms

American Cyanamid 4,049
S-[1,2-Bis(carbethoxy)ethyl] O,O-dimethyl dithiophosphate
S-1,2-Bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl-O,O-dimethylthiophosphate
Calmathion
Carbetovur
Carbetox
Carbofos
Carbophos
Celthion
Chemathion
Cimexan
Compound 4049
Cythion
Detmol MA
S-(1,2-Dicarbethoxyethyl)-O,O-dimethyldithiophosphate
Dicarbethoxyethyl O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate
S-[1,2-Di(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl] dimethylphosphorothiolothionate
Diethyl (dimethoxyphosphinothioylthio) butanedioate
Diethyl(dimethoxyphosphinothioylthio)succinate
Diethyl mercaptosuccinate, O,O-dimethyldithiophosphate, S-ester
Diethyl mercaptosuccinate, O,O-dimethylphosphorodithioate, diethyl mercaptosuccinate, O,O-dimethyl thiophosphate
Diethyl mercaptosuccinate S-ester with O,O-dimethylphosphorodithioate
Diethyl mercaptosuccinic acid O,O-dimethylphosphorodithioate
O,O-Dimethyl S-[1,2-bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]dithiophosphate
O,O-Dimethyl S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl) dithiophosphate
O,O-Dimethyl S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl)phosphorodithioate
O,O-Dimethyl S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl)thiothionophosphate
O,O-Dimethyl S-1,2-di(ethoxycarbamyl)ethylphosphorodithioate
O,O-Dimethyldithiophosphate diethylmercaptosuccinate
O,O-Dimethyl phosphorodithioate of diethylmercaptosuccinate
EI 4049
Emmatos
Emmatos Extra
ENT 17,034
Ethiolacar
Etiol
Extermathion
Fog 3
Formal
For-Mal
Forthion
Fosfothion
Fosfotion
Four Thousand Forty Nine
Fyfanon
8059 HC
Hilthion
Hilthion 25WDP
Insecticide No. 4049
Karbofos
Kop-thion
Kypfos
Malacide
Malafor
Malagran
Malakill
Malamar
Malamar 50
Malaphele
Malasol
Malaspray
Malathion E50
Malathiozol
Malathiozoo
Malathon
Malathyl LV Concentrate & ULV Concentrate
Malatol
Malatox
Maldison
Malmed
Malphos
Maltox MLT
Mercaptosuccinic acid diethyl ester, S-ester with O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate
Mercaptothion; mercaptotion
Moscarda
NCI COO215
Oleophosphothion
Ortho Malathion
Phosphorodithioic acid O,O-dimethyl ester, S-ester with diethyl mercaptosuccinate
Phosphothion
Prioderm
Sadofos
Sadophos
SF60
Siptox 1
Siptox I
Sumitox
TAK
TM-4049
Vegfru Malatox
Vetiol
Zithiol

Last updated: 16 April 1998





























    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Malathion (ICSC)
       Malathion (FAO Meeting Report PL/1965/10/1)
       Malathion (FAO/PL:CP/15)
       Malathion (FAO/PL:1967/M/11/1)
       Malathion (JMPR Evaluations 2003 Part II Toxicological)
       Malathion (FAO/PL:1968/M/9/1)
       Malathion (FAO/PL:1969/M/17/1)
       Malathion (AGP:1970/M/12/1)
       Malathion (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 3)
       Malathion (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 5)
       Malathion (Pesticide residues in food: 1977 evaluations)
       Malathion (Pesticide residues in food: 1984 evaluations)
       Malathion (Pesticide residues in food: 1997 evaluations Part II Toxicological & Environmental)