Is Malathion safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Malathion. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
The manufacturer reports that 8% of a topically applied solution of malathion (concentration unspecified) in an acetone vehicle is absorbed through human skin. However, the extent of absorption from commercial 0.5% malathion lotion is not known. Maternal Levels . Nine breastmilk samples were analyzed from women who lived in an area of California that had been sprayed in 1981 with malathion from 4 to 14 times during their pregnancy and lactation. Malathion was undetectable ( 5 mcg/L) in all of the samples. Any exposure of the women would probably have been via inhalation or direct ingestion.[ 2 ] Twelve donors from Bhopal, India provided hindmilk samples to monitor for malathion. The mean malathion level in the samples was 0.043 mg/L (range 0 to 0.086 mg/L). The calculated daily intake by breastfed infants was 40% higher than the World Health Organization recommended average daily intake. The source of malathion was thought to be from contaminated food crops that had been harvested before the recommended waiting time after spraying.[ 3 ] Infant Levels . Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Malathion is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.