Biodegradation Malathion

Organophosphates (Fig. 10, Table 3) are more toxic than chlorinated hydrocarbons, in particular to humans,but they exhibit lower persistence in soils and do not seem to accumulate in soil fauna or concentrate in birds and fish [74]. This behavior is also related to an enhanced water solubility and lower vapor pressure of organophosphates. Malathion and Parathion (Fig. 10, Table 3) insecticides are known to be chemically hydrolyzed and biodegraded by micro-... 

Organophosphates are more toxic than chlorinated hydrocarbons, in particular to humans. Malathion and Parathion insecticides are known to be chemically hydrolyzed and biodegraded by microorganisms in solid phase systems. 

Malathion is a widely used member of a class of pesticides known as organophospate derivatives. It is biodegradable and less toxic (LDg for female rats is 1000 mg/kg) than DDT. Several other organophosphorus compounds are modifications of this basic structure. They include dimethoate (LD = 387 mg/kg), chlorpyrifos (LD q = 95-270 mg/kg), and methyl parathion (LD o = 18 -50 mg/kg). These organophosphates often are used in the treatment of many pests that are found on vegetables, or, in the case of methyl parathion, on cotton plants. 

Jauregui J, Valderrama B, Albores A, Vazquez-duhalt R (2003) Microsomal transformation of oiganophosphorus pesticides by white rot fungi. Biodegradation 14 397-406 Kim YH, Ahn JY, Moon SH, Lee J (2005) Biodegradation and detoxification of organophosphate insecticide, malathion by Fusarium oxyspomm f sp. pisi cutinase. Chemosphere 60 1349-1355... 

Saxena KK, Seth N (2002) Toxic effects of cypermethrin on certain hematological aspeds of fresh water fish, Channa punctatus. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 69 364-369 Schofield DA, Dinovo AA (2010) Generation of a mutagenized oiganophosphorus hydrolase for the biodegradation of the oiganophosphate pestiddes malathion and demeton-s. J Appl Microbiol 109 548-557... 

---