Safety of Malathion

I would like to respond to the two letters you printed on Oct. 29 regarding Medfly spraying and the concerns they raised.

As you know, we presently have a small infestation of this very damaging pest in an area of Los Angeles know as Koreatown and Country Club Park. Ground spray with malathion bait is being applied to trees and shrubs on approximately 585 properties. Malathion is one of the least hazardous pesticides in use today and is commonly applied by homeowners in amounts far larger than those used by my department. The amount being applied for fruit flies and the manner in which it is applied does not pose a health threat to the public.

One of the letters raised the concern of malathion and cancer, stating that “90% of all cancers are environmentally caused.” Malathion is not carcinogenic, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicity Program, the California Department of Health Services and the newly created California Environmental Protection Agency.

One writer urged us to “consider agriculture states like Hawaii, who have learned to live with the Medfly.” Because Hawaii allowed the Medfly to become permanently established, almost everything Hawaii exports has to be fumigated.

What if the Medfly became permanently established in California? Agriculture is California’s largest single industry, last year contributing $18.3 billion to the state’s economy. One of five California jobs is either directly or indirectly related to agriculture. Exports of $4.5 billion would be dramatically reduced because of the embargoes by some countries and U.S. states of our agricultural products. It would be folly to follow Hawaii’s example and allow the Medfly to become entrenched in California.

The final inaccuracy that must be correct is “that smart fly never flies to Beverly Hills.” Aerial spray treatment occurred in 1988 in Beverly Hills in response to a Medfly infestation.

It is our sincere hope that we will not have to conduct an aerial spray program. We are using alternatives that were not available to us last year. Research is under way in several areas looking for ways that may well preclude the use of malathion in Medfly outbreaks in future years

HENRY J. VOSS, Director

Department of Food and Agriculture

Sacramento