What are common organophosphates?

Organophosphate (OP) compounds are a diverse group of chemicals used in both domestic and industrial settings. Examples of organophosphates include the following: Insecticides – Malathion, parathion, diazinon, fenthion, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos, ethion. Nerve gases – Soman, sarin, tabun, VX.

What herbicides are organophosphates?

What products are organophosphate pesticides used on? Acephate, bensulide, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dimethoate, ethoprophos, malathion, naled, phorate, and phosmet are among the organophosphate pesticides registered for use under the category of “agricultural crops.”

What happens when you swallow organophosphate?

Even ingesting small to medium amounts of paraquat can lead to fatal poisoning. Within several weeks to several days after ingesting a small amount, the person may experience lung scarring and the failure of multiple organs. This includes heart failure, respiratory failure, kidney failure, and liver failure.

Why are organophosphates banned?

Organophosphates are acutely neurotoxic — meaning that people who are exposed at high doses over a brief period can experience severe neurological symptoms — and are linked to reduced IQ, loss of working memory, and attention deficit disorders in children at low levels of exposure.

Is organophosphate same as organophosphorus?

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.

What is the source of organophosphates?

Organophosphates (OP) are chemical substances produced by the process of esterification between phosphoric acid and alcohol. Organophosphates can undergo hydrolysis with the liberation of alcohol from the ester bond. These chemicals are the main components of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides.

Are organophosphates banned in the UK?

At present, the government’s position remains that organophosphate pesticides are safe, if used in line with the manufacturers’ instructions. A certification and registration scheme exists for ensuring that those using organophosphate products understand how to do this.

What do organophosphates treat?

Organophosphates and carbamates are common insecticides that inhibit cholinesterase activity, causing acute muscarinic manifestations (eg, salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, emesis, bronchorrhea, bronchospasm, bradycardia, miosis) and some nicotinic symptoms, including muscle fasciculations and weakness.

Are organophosphates naturally occurring?

Anatoxin-a(S) – the currently only naturally occurring organophosphate we know of. Anatoxin-a(S) is a neurotoxic cyanobacterial secondary metabolite exerting a mode of action similar to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides.

How many organophosphates are there?

ORGANOPHOSPHATES. What are organophosphates? There are almost 900 different bug killers (pesticides) that can be used in the United States. A small number (37) belong to a class of insect killers (insecticides) known as organophosphates.

Are organophosphates still used?

Organophosphates are currently used in a variety of environments (e.g. agriculture, gardens and veterinary practices), however, several notable OPs have been discontinued for use.