from:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000511/ts/environment_malathion_1.html

Thursday May 11 10:17 AM ET

EPA Finds Malathion a Suspected Carcinogen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientists have
determined that malathion, a pesticide widely used to fight mosquitos, may
cause cancer, an EPA source said on Thursday.

The agency was expected to make an announcement later on Thursday finding
malathion a suspected carcinogen.

``The EPA scientists' risk assessment finds that malathion is a suspected
carcinogen. The risks are fairly small but acceptable compared to other
substances,'' the agency source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

New York City used malathion late last summer to spray neighborhoods and
kill mosquitos carrying the deadly West Nile Virus. The disease, which can
cause brain-swelling and diseases such as meningitis, was blamed for seven
U.S. deaths and 60 infections.

Last month, city officials said they would spray insecticides only as a last
resort this summer, and omitted malathion from the list of potential
chemicals to be used.

``We were told it was safe in emphatic language by state authorities, the
federal authorities,'' New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told reporters on
Wednesday. ``Of course we wouldn't have used it if we had been told anything
different.''

The EPA source said the announcement would be part of the agency's risk
assessment of malathion, and would not have any immediate impact on the sale
or distribution of malathion.

``This is not any kind of rulemaking or regulatory action. This is just
putting the science together,'' he added.