noun
- an organophosphate insecticide used to control insects on crops and in public health programs
Usage: chemistry; agriculture
Examples
- The farmer applied malathion to protect his apple orchard from aphids.
- Public health officials used malathion spraying to control mosquito populations.
- Malathion is considered less toxic to mammals than many other organophosphate pesticides.
- The EPA has approved malathion for use on various food crops.
- Workers must wear protective equipment when handling malathion concentrate.
- Malathion breaks down relatively quickly in the environment compared to other pesticides.