Exposure to aerial malathion application and the occurrence of congenital anomalies and low birthweight.

The association between exposure to low dose malathion, after its aerial application to 13,000 square miles in the San Francisco Bay area, and the occurrence of birth defects and low birthweight was examined using newborn hospital discharge data and vital records. No biologically plausible pattern of association was found. Limitations in the data and analysis are discussed.