Abstract
The main Public Health problem raised by the ever increasing usage of organophosphorous pesticides is the possible toxocological effect of long term exposure to low concentrations, mainly as residues in food. One of these organophosphorous compounds, malathion (O,O-dimethyl-S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl) phosphorodithioate, is the most commonly used pesticide and its residues have been detected in various food stuffs. Until now no documented evidence has been available on the specific indices of effect of malathion on thyroid functioning. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the effect of malathion toxicity on thyroid functioning in male albino rats. From the present study it is concluded that malathion, an organophosphorous insecticide, at the dosage, route and duration of administration reported here, might result in altered thyroid functioning.