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Methyl parathion

General Information

• Chemical Class: Organophosphate insecticide
• Uses: control of many types of pests, including mites, thrips, weevils, aphids, and leafhoppers on terrestrial food and feed crops: Alfalfa, almonds, barley, dried beans, cabbage, corn, cotton, grass forage/fodder/hay, hops, lentils, oats, onion, pastures, dried peas, pecans, rangeland, rape seed (canola), rice, rye, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflower, sweet potatoes, walnuts, wheat, white potatoes, and yams.
• Alternatives: Organic Agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: I (highly toxic)
• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (4)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (4)
• Kidney/ Liver Damage: Not documented
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Not documented

Environmental Effects

• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Detected in Streams: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Fish/ Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Mammals: Yes (8)
• Long-Range Transport: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (7/2006)
• Supporting information:
• Extoxnet Methyl parathion Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
• PAN Pesticide Database (Pesticde Action Network)