Preliminary Assessment of the Acute Toxicity of Malathion in Animals.
Abstract
Studies were conducted to acquire information concerning the acute toxicity of malathion in animals under various conditions of exposure. The responses in rabbits and quail exposed to aerosols generated from technical grade malathion (95 percent) and approximating an ultra-low volume ground spray were compared with those from a 6 percent malathion/No. 2 fuel oil mixture simulating a high volume spray. Results indicate that technical grade malathion (95 percent) as an ultra-low volume spray and at effective insecticidal concentrations in particle sizes having a mass median diameter of about 12 micrometers is relatively nonhazardous compared to the possible toxic fuel oil effects of a 6 percent malathion/No. 2 fuel oil mixture with a mass median diameter of 25 micrometers. Based on blood plasma cholinesterase activity analyses, quail were more sensitive to equivalent malathion exposure concentrations than were rabbits. Oral administration of technical grade malathion to rabbits resulted in reduction of plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activity in dosages of 120, 300 and 600 mg/kg with death resulting from 1200 mg/kg.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA016146
Entities
People
- Charles D. Davenport
- Maurice H. Weeks
- Richard A. Angerhofer
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Command