Axia College Material

Appendix B

Risk Assessment of Malathion

This document outlines a common dilemma faced by countless communities every year. It
presents a proposed pesticide application program that is awaiting approval from the city council,
and its final council member, you, must decide if this pesticide can be used in the hypothetical
city, Genericville.

The City and the Problem

Genericville is an American city with an economically diverse population of 100,000 that is highly
dependent on summer tourism. A wide river runs through the center of Genericville. Along the
banks of the river are several wetlands that serve to protect the city from spring flooding. The
wetlands also provide a source of nutrients for several species of birds and fish that are among
many environmental elements that make Genericville popular with summer vacationers.
Unfortunately, the wetlands also serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes that may spread
diseases like West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a dangerous nervous system disease that spreads primarily by
mosquitoes. According to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2007), there
were 4,269 WNV cases in the U.S. in 2006 and 177 were fatalities. Based on experience, recent
testing of infected birds, and an enlarged mosquito breeding area due to heavy rainfall, there are
projections that there could be 50 cases of WNV in Genericville this year with two fatalities. Both
the rich and poor communities of Genericville equally share this risk.

The Pesticide Solution and its Proponents

A wealthy city resident who suffered a family loss from WNV a couple of years ago has offered to
provide Genericville with all funds necessary to implement an extensive program of aerial
spraying and ground application of the pesticide, Malathion. The proposed program could reduce
the mosquito population by 90%, providing the same reduction in risk of WNV. This would mean
that the projected number of WNV cases would drop from 50 to five, with less than a 20% chance
of a fatality in each of the five cases.

Proponents of this plan presented data from government studies to indicate that long-term
environmental risk from Malathion application was unlikely because it degrades to harmless
materials rapidly after application (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2005,
Section 1). They argue that exposure to Malathion could be completely controlled by educational
programs and precautions. Part of the proposal includes extensive precautions and an
awareness campaign to avoid exposure during Malathion applications and to prevent contact with
residues for a week after applications. Proponents contend that avoiding exposure to the large
uncontrolled mosquito population that could cause WNV is not as feasible as avoiding exposure
to Malathion applications, which can be controlled.

Proponents further argue that since Genericville has such a high rate of incidence of WNV,
tourists would not visit without implementation of the program. Reduced tourism could create
further poverty that could in turn increase health risks to city residents.

The Opposition to Pesticide Application

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Opponents propose that monetary resources proposed for pesticide application could be better
spent on educational efforts to avoid exposure to the mosquitoes themselves rather than on the
application of Malathion. They argue that many people, particularly the poor or uneducated,
would not follow the safety precautions required by the Malathion application program.
Uninformed residents, for example, could be outside during aerial spraying, or they could handle
or eat matter that contains residues from application of the pesticide.

Opponents estimate that there could be as many as 90 cases of Malathion-related illnesses from
the proposed application program with four that may be fatal. Opponents used information from a
Florida study referenced in the same study used by proponents (Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry, 2005, Section 3).

Opponents of Malathion application also argued that the use of pesticides could kill the natural
predators of mosquitoes and ultimately increase the spread of WNV as well as damage the fragile
ecosystem important to tourism. Such long-term effects of pesticide application are possible and
the risks are unknown. Opponents believe that because of this unknown risk the precautionary
principle should apply to Malathion application. In other words, Malathion should not be applied
until there is direct evidence that there is no long-term risk to the environment.

The Decision That Is Required

Like many environmental debates, stakeholders with different priorities view the same information
differently. The City Council of Genericville must make a decision through a majority vote. When
faced with a decision, all members of the council have to accept their responsibility to vote. They
need to learn as much as they can about the options and make a decision when the time comes,
even if they still have questions or do not like the alternatives. They believe that not voting or
stating an unrealistic alternative is not accepting societal responsibility. What decision will you
make?

References

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2005). Toxicologic information about
insecticides used for eradicating mosquitoes. Malathion (CAS Number 121-75-5). Retrieved
July 1, 2007, from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/west_nile_virus/malathion.html.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). 2006 West Nile Virus activity
in the United States. West Nile Virus Statistics, Surveillance, and Control. Retrieved July 1,
2007, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&controlCaseCount06_detailed.htm.

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