Where is organophosphate found?

Organophosphate pesticides are found in Small amounts of organophosphate pesticides found in these foods come from agricultural pesticide use. Air and dust in areas where organophosphate pesticides are used, such as some farms or home gardens.

What is the most common source of organophosphate poisoning?

Organophosphate poisoning occurs most commonly as a suicide attempt in farming areas of the developing world and less commonly by accident. Exposure can be from drinking, breathing in the vapors, or skin exposure.

What are the routes of pesticide exposure?

Exposure to a particular pesticide may occur through multiple exposure routes (oral, dermal, and inhalation) depending on the type and use of the pesticide. Common sources of exposure to pesticides for the general population include residues in food and drinking water.

What are some examples of organophosphates?

Examples of organophosphates include the following:

Insecticides – Malathion, parathion, diazinon, fenthion, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos, ethion.
Nerve gases – Soman, sarin, tabun, VX.
Ophthalmic agents – Echothiophate, isoflurophate.
Antihelmintics – Trichlorfon.
Herbicides – Tribufos (DEF), merphos.

Where are organophosphates used?

Organophosphates are the most widely used insecticides today. They are used in agriculture, the home, gardens, and veterinary practice. Organophosphate insecticides (such as diazinon) are one type of pesticide that works by damaging an enzyme in the body called acetylcholinesterase.

How does organophosphates affect the nervous system?

Upon entering the body—through ingestion, inhalation, or contact with skin—organophosphates inhibit cholinesterase, an enzyme in the human nervous system that breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that carries signals between nerves and muscles.

What are the possible pathways which pesticide enter to the human body and give some example for each?

Pesticides can enter the human body by three common ways: through the skin (contact), the mouth (ingestion), and the lungs (inhalation) (Figure 2). The state of the chemical, i.e., solid, liquid, or gas, affects the chances of pesticide penetration into the body [25].

How do you test your body for pesticides?

To measure chemicals that pass through the body more quickly — such as the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos — scientists take urine samples. Such chemicals may be carried in the body for a matter of hours or days following exposure, making the timing of biomonitoring critical.

What is the mechanism of action of organophosphates?

The primary mechanism of action of organophosphate pesticides is inhibition of carboxyl ester hydrolases, particularly acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is an enzyme that degrades the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into choline and acetic acid.

How do Organophosphates contaminate drinking water?

Organophosphate pesticides degrade rapidly by hydrolysis on exposure to sunlight, air, and soil, although small amounts can be detected in food and drinking water. [citation needed] Organophosphates contaminate drinking water by moving through the soil to the ground water. When the pesticide degrades,…

What is the general structure of an organophosphate?

General chemical structure of the organophosphate functional group Organophosphates (also known as phosphate esters, or OPEs) are a class of organophosphorus compounds with the general structure O=P (OR) 3, a central phosphate molecule with alkyl or aromatic substituents. They can be considered as esters of phosphoric acid.

How is organophosphate poisoning distinguished from other types of poisoning?

If you suspect you were exposed to some type of harmful chemical, your doctor will work to determine which is affecting you. There are subtle differences between the effects of various types of poisons. Organophosphate poisoning is distinguished from other types of poisoning by a very fast onset of symptoms.

How do organophosphate pesticides affect the environment?

Organophosphate pesticides degrade rapidly by hydrolysis on exposure to sunlight, air, and soil, although small amounts can be detected in food and drinking water. Organophosphates contaminate drinking water by moving through the soil to the ground water. When the pesticide degrades, it is broken down into several chemicals.