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Product Name: Malathion
Chemical Name: Diethyl (dimethoxythiophosphorylthio) succinate
Common Uses: Insecticide on crops, gardens, livestock, homes, and public health mosquito control
CAS Number: 121-75-5
Manufacturer Information: Listed on container label
Emergency Contact: Call local poison control and manufacturer emergency number
Product Formulation: Liquid concentrate, dust, wettable powder, or emulsifiable concentrate
Synonyms: Carbophos, Celthion, Maltox, Mercaptothion, Cythion
UN Number: 2783
Molecular Formula: C10H19O6PS2
Recommended Use Restrictions: Not for home use in indoor living spaces
Hazard Class: WHO class III (slightly hazardous)
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed, harmful if inhaled, causes skin and eye irritation, may cause respiratory irritation, toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Pictograms: Exclamation mark, environmental hazard
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing spray; wash thoroughly after handling; keep away from food and drink; do not release into environment; wear protective clothing; emergency plans required for spills
Symptoms of Exposure: Headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulty, muscle twitching, convulsions, possible respiratory failure
Routes of Entry: Inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion
Active Ingredient: Malathion (C10H19O6PS2) 95-99%
Inert Ingredients: Solvents, emulsifiers, stabilizers (1-5%)
Impurities: Malaoxon (highly toxic oxidative metabolite, possible trace impurity by degradation)
Other Information: Ingredients vary by formulation; dusts, concentrates and sprays may contain additional surfactants or carriers
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air, keep at rest, provide oxygen if breathing is difficult, seek medical attention
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash skin immediately with plenty of water and soap for 15 minutes, seek medical attention if irritation persists
Eye Contact: Rinse with water cautiously for 15 minutes holding eyelids open; remove contact lenses if present; medical evaluation recommended
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting, keep victim calm, call poison control/physician immediately
Note for Physicians: Malathion poisoning is treated with atropine and pralidoxime as antidotes; avoid morphine, barbiturates, phenothiazines; monitor respiratory function; activated charcoal may be considered if not contraindicated
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical powder, foam, carbon dioxide, water spray
Unsuitable Media: Direct water jet; risk of chemical runoff contamination
Specific Hazards: Releases toxic fumes when burning including sulfur oxides, phosphorous oxides, carbon oxides
Protective Equipment: Self-contained breathing apparatus, full protective gear
Fire and Explosion Risk: May form combustible mixtures with air; containers may rupture and explode from heat; runoff may pollute water supplies
Special Precautions: Dike fire water for later disposal, avoid inhaling fumes, do not allow chemicals to enter drains or water bodies
Personal Precautions: Avoid breathing vapors, ensure ventilation, use recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements, or confined areas
Spill Cleanup Methods: Absorb with inert material such as sand or earth, place in a chemical waste container for proper disposal, decontaminate area with detergent and water solution
Disposal: Dispose waste in accordance with local, regional, national, and international regulations
Decontamination: Wash exposed equipment and surfaces with plenty of water and detergent, keep used cleanup materials in closed containers
Handling: Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, avoid contact with eyes, skin, clothing; do not eat, drink, or smoke during use; wash hands and face after handling
Storage: Store in tightly closed original containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sparks, open flames, and incompatible materials (alkalis, strong oxidizers)
Specific Storage Conditions: Keep away from food, feedstuffs, and drinking water; maintain labeling and containment integrity
Incompatibility: Avoid storing near strong acids, bases, oxidizing agents, tin, and iron; segregate from household goods
Shelf Life: Degrades in long-term storage, especially under moist, warm, or alkaline conditions; inspect containers for leaks
Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL): OSHA: 15 mg/m3 (total dust), ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/m3 TWA
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation, safety showers, eye wash stations in immediate area
Personal Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves (e.g., nitrile, butyl), coversuits (long sleeves), chemical splash goggles or full-face shield, NIOSH-approved respirator for airborne exposure, closed shoes or boots
Work/Hygiene Practices: Change contaminated clothes promptly, launder clothing before reuse, do not reuse PPE once heavily contaminated, monitor for cholinesterase activity in high exposure areas
Environmental Controls: Prevent dust/fume release into open air, collect spills immediately to minimize run-off into drains or water bodies
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odor: Characteristic mercaptan-like odor
Melting Point: 2-3°C
Boiling Point: 156°C at 0.15 mmHg
Density: 1.23 g/cm3 at 25°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water (145 mg/L at 25°C), easily soluble in most organic solvents (acetone, ethanol)
Vapor Pressure: 2.5 x 10-5 mmHg at 30°C
Partition Coefficient (log Pow): 2.36
pH: Not applicable (neutral compound)
Flash Point: 156°C
Auto-ignition Temperature: >455°C
Decomposition Temperature: >140°C (decomposes forming malaoxon and toxic gases)
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions, unstable in alkaline or highly humid conditions
Reactivity: Degrades with heat, moisture, and alkaline chemicals; forms malaoxon (more toxic derivative) upon oxidation
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Sulfur oxides, phosphorous oxides, carbon oxides, malaoxon
Incompatibility: Contact with strong bases, acids, oxidizing agents accelerates breakdown
Polymerization: Will not polymerize
Other Concerns: Chronic exposure leads to pesticide resistance in pests; breaks down slowly in cold, dry soils but faster with higher temperature and sunlight
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (rat): 1375 mg/kg; Dermal LD50 (rabbit): 4100 mg/kg; Inhalation LC50 (rat, 4hr): >5000 mg/m3
Chronic Effects: Possible cholinesterase inhibition with nervous system effects: muscle weakness, cramps, confusion
Carcinogenicity: EPA class D (not classifiable as carcinogenic to humans); IARC group 3 (not classifiable)
Mutagenicity: Not a known mutagen
Reproductive Effects: No evidence for causing birth defects in humans at typical environmental levels
Sensitization: Prolonged contact may cause allergic skin reaction
Organ Toxicity: Primarily targets liver, kidney, and nervous system
Other Effects: Symptoms of cholinergic overactivity if overdosed or mishandled
Ecotoxicity: Highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates and fish; LC50 (fish): 0.1-10 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Rapid breakdown in sunlight, moderate persistence in soil; biodegrades in two to six days outdoors
Bioaccumulation: Low tendency to bioaccumulate in animals, but highly mobile in water
Mobility in Soil: Moderately mobile, risk of leaching to groundwater if used improperly
Effect on Bees: Highly toxic to honeybees, reduces beneficial insect populations
Effect on Birds: Low toxicity in most bird species
Degradation Products: Malaoxon, CO2, sulfate and phosphate ions; malaoxon is more toxic than malathion and threatens non-target aquatic life
Precaution: Avoid drift to water sources, wetlands, or pollinator habitats; buffer zones important
Waste Handling: Follow local, regional, and national hazardous waste procedures
Product Disposal: Incinerate at approved facilities, do not dispose of in drains, watercourses, or normal garbage
Container Disposal: Triple rinse containers, puncture and send for reconditioning or local pesticide container recycling
Contaminated Materials: Dispose of cleaning materials, clothing, and PPE as hazardous waste
Precautionary Practices: Minimize waste generation, reduce unnecessary use; never reuse containers
Special Notes: Observe label instructions, inform hazardous waste authorities about malathion content in bulk waste
UN Number: 2783
Proper Shipping Name: Organophosphorus pesticide, liquid, toxic
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substance)
Packing Group: III
Marine Pollutant: Yes (mark cargo and documentation accordingly)
Environmental Hazards: Highly toxic to aquatic organisms; avoid transport spills
Special Transportation Precautions: Secure upright in original containers; avoid extremes of temperature; comply with international and national transportation regulations; emergency information must travel with shipment
OSHA: Covered under Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
EPA Registration: Registered pesticide under FIFRA; subject to re-registration and tolerance reassessment
SARA Title III (EPCRA): Yes, listed as an immediate (acute) health hazard
TSCA Status: Listed
RCRA: Classified as hazardous waste under Federal and most State disposal programs
IARC: Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
California Proposition 65: Not listed
International: Subject to Rotterdam Convention for Prior Informed Consent (PIC), regulated as a hazardous substance under various jurisdictions
Label Requirements: Pesticide use must comply with all applicable label safety, environmental, and notification standards
Other Restrictions: Some countries prohibit or restrict use due to environmental and pollinator impact
