Malathion

Malathion is a organophosphate parasympathomimetic which binds irreversibly to cholinesterase.

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Malathion is an insecticide of relatively low human toxicity.

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However, Malathion breaks down into Malaoxon, which is 60 times more toxic than Malathion. For this reason, if Malathion is used or somehow enters an indoor environment, as it breaks down into Malaoxon, it can seriously and chronically poison the occupants living or working in this environmnent.

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In 1976, numerous malaria workers in Pakistan were poisoned by isomalathion, a common impurity in malathion, which is capable of inhibiting carboxyesterase enzymes in those exposed to it; the original toxicity evaluation for malathion had not anticipated isomalathion coexposure.

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Organophosphate: An organophosphate (sometimes abbreviated OP) is the general name for any organic compound containing phosphorus. They can be found as part of insecticides, herbicides, and nerve gases, amongst others....

Parasympathomimetic: A parasympathomimetic is a drug or poison that acts by stimulating or mimicking the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). These chemicals are also called cholinergics because acetylcholine (ACh) is the neurotransmitter used by the PNS. Chemicals in this family can act by either directly stimulating ...

Cholinesterase: In biochemistry, cholinesterase is a term which refers to one of the two enzymes:...