What to Do If Malathion Is Spilled in a Garage?
Malathion is an insecticide used to control house flies, mosquitoes and many other insects. It is principally produced by the American Cyanimid Co. Malathion is commonly used for mosquito control as part of public health programs. It is considered safe and is well tolerated by most mammals. However, there are still safety concerns if the product is spilled. The Clemson University Extension Service suggests following the three C's of handling chemical spills. Does this Spark an idea?
Control the Spill
Limit the amount of the spill as much as possible. Set the container upright as soon as possible. Pour the malathion from broken containers into another receptacle to limit the amount of the chemical spilled.
Contain the Spill
Limit the spread of the spill by applying absorbent material such as sawdust, paper towels or cat litter. Other absorbent items that may be found in a garage include sand or dirt. The initial effort with the absorbent materials is to limit the spread of the spill.
Clean the Spill
Absorb the liquid of the spill with more absorbent material. Again use sawdust, cat litter, sand or dirt to soak up all the spilled malathion. Then gather the material into a plastic bag for disposal. According to the Occupational Health Guideline for Malathion prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor, the absorbent material soaked with malathion may be disposed of in a sanitary landfill.
After the spill is controlled and removed, the homeowner may want to neutralize any residual malathion in the garage.
Clemson University Extension Service cautions against washing the area with water. The runoff of this water would be contaminated with traces of malathion and could flow into storm or sanitary sewer systems.
Instead, wash the area with strong detergents or bleach. Use as little detergent or bleach as possible since this material will also need to be absorbed and disposed of properly. Clemson University Extension says bleach is particularly effective for organophosphate insecticides such as malathion.
Also, clean any tools or clothes that came in contact with the malathion. Use absorbents to soak up all the liquid used for the cleaning process. Dispose of these absorbent materials along with the materials used to clean up the spill.
When finished, the homeowner should wash his hands and any other skin surfaces exposed to the malathion with soap and water. Shower if a large portion of the body was contaminated with the malathion. Wash clothing contaminated with malathion separately from other clothes.
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