Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

MALDISON

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Concentrate which is used for preparation of semi- persistent insecticides effective
against Mediterranean fruit fly, thrip and mites. Sold as emulsifiable concentrate,
wettable powder and dusting powder. Used as a spray on fruit, vegetables, ornamentals and
livestock. Malathion is rapidly degraded in soils with reported degradation in 10 days in
various non- sterile loam soils. Complete degradation of malathion in 25 days has been
recorded in both sterile and non- sterile estuarine waters. Products of degradation
include malaoxon, alpha- and beta- monocarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids, O, O-
dimethylphosphoro- dithioic acid, diethyl maleate and desmethyl malathion. The major
metabolite in soil is malathion beta- monoacid.

SYNONYMS

C10-H19-O6-P-S2, C10-H19-O6-P-S2, "s-(1, 2-bis(carbethoxy)ethyl) o, o-dimethyl
dithiophosphate", "s-(1, 2-bis(carbethoxy)ethyl) o, o-dimethyl dithiophosphate", "s-(1, 2-
bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl) o, o-dimethyl phosphorodithioate", "s-(1, 2-
bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl) o, o-dimethyl phosphorodithioate", "s-1, 2-
bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl-o, o-dimethyl thiophosphate", "s-1, 2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl-o,
o-dimethyl thiophosphate", "diethyl (dimethoxyphosphinothioylthio) butanedioate",
"diethyl mercaptosuccinate, o, o-dimethyl dithiophaphate, s-ester", "diethyl
mercaptosuccinate, o, o-dimethyl dithiophaphate, s-ester", "diethyl mercaptosuccinic
acid o, o-dimethyl phosphorodithioate", "diethyl mercaptosuccinic acid o, o-dimethyl
phosphorodithioate", "((dimethoxyphosphinothioyl)thio)butanedioic acid diethyl ester", "o,
o-dimethyldithiophosphate diethylmercaptosuccinate", "o, o-dimethyldithiophosphate
diethylmercaptosuccinate", "mercaptosuccinic acid diethyl ester", mercaptothion, "o, o--
dimethyl-s-(1, 2-dicarbethoxyethyl) dithiophosphate", "o, o--dimethyl-s-(1, 2-
dicarbethoxyethyl) dithiophosphate", Calmathion, Carbetox, "Carbethoxy malathion",
Carbophos, Celthion, Chemathion, Cimexam, Cythion, "Detmol MA", Emmatos, Ethiolacar,
Etiol, Extermathion, Formal, Forthion, Hilthion, "Insecticide No. 4049", -, Karbofos,
Kypfos, Malacide, Malmed, Malafor, Malakill, Malagran, Malamar, Malaphos, Malasol,
Malaspray, Malathon, Malatox, Maltox, Prioderm, Oleophosphothion, "Orthomalathion
Sadophos", Sumitox

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
Very toxic by inhalation.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  Direct eye contact can produce tears, eyelid twitches, pupil contraction, loss of focus, and blurred or dimmed vision. Dilation of the pupils occasionally occurs.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Toxic effects may result from skin absorption.  Sensitization may result in allergic dermatitis responses includingrash, itching, hives or swelling of extremities.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of the material, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  BE AWARE: Repeated minor exposures with only mild symptoms may have serious cumulative poisoning effect.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact with the material and inhalation of vapor/spray mist.  Repeated or prolonged exposures to cholinesterase inhibitors produce symptoms similar to acute effects. In addition workers exposed repeatedly to these substances may exhibit impaired memory and loss of concentration, severe depression and acute psychosis, irritability, confusion, apathy, emotional liability, speech difficulties, headache, spatial disorientation, delayed reaction times, sleepwalking, drowsiness or insomnia. An influenza-like condition with nausea, weakness, anorexia and malaise has been described. There is a growing body of evidence from epidemiological studies and from experimental laboratory studies that short-term exposure to some cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides may produce behavioral or neuro- chemical changes lasting for days or months,  presumably outlasting the cholinesterase inhibition. Although the number of adverse effects following humans poisonings subside, there are still effects in some workers months after cholinesterase activity returns to normal. These long-lasting effects include blurred vision, headache, weakness, and anorexia. The neurochemistry of animals exposed to chlorpyrifos or fenthion is reported to be altered permanently after a single exposure. These effects may be more severe in developing animals where both acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase may play an integral part in the development of the nervous system. Padilla S., The Neurotoxicity of Cholinesterase-Inhibiting Insecticides: Past and Present Evidence Demonstrating Persistent Effects. Inhalation Toxicology 7:903-907, 1995.