Organophosphates: What You Don't Know Can Indeed Hurt You

by www.SixWise.com
Reprinted with Permission from the SixWise.com Security & Wellness e-Newsletter.

Organophosphates are a group of pesticides that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were first developed during the early 19th century. However, their poisonous effects weren't widely known until the 1930s when the German military developed them for use in World War II as a neurotoxin.

Organophosphate pesticides account for 38 percent of all pesticides in use throughout the world. They kill insects by disrupting their brains and nervous systems -- but they can also harm the brains and nervous systems of animals and humans (which is why it is used in nerve gas and other weapons), says the Illinois Department of Public Health.
 
These chemicals work by stopping a key enzyme in the nervous system (cholinesterase) from working. When this happens, a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine can no longer be properly controlled, which results in nerve impulses remaining active for longer than they should. This over-stimulates the nerves and muscles and results in symptoms like weakness and muscle paralysis, says the EPA.

In 2001, organophosphates accounted for about half of the insecticides sold in the United States, and about 60 million pounds are used on crops each year. Some of the more well-known organophosphates include diazinon, disulfoton, azinphos-methyl and fonofos.

Diazinon, which was sold in the United States for 48 years, was once the most widely used ingredient in U.S. lawn and garden sprays, with close to 15 million pounds being sold annually. However, due to safety concerns, the EPA ordered that the chemical no longer be used for indoor use by March 2001, and no longer be used for lawn and garden use by June 2003.

Another organophosphate, chlorpyrifos (Dursban), was phased out in 2000 after studies showed children could be particularly vulnerable to harm from exposure.

Pesticides Found in People

A 2003 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, tested thousands of people for exposure to 116 chemicals, 34 of which were pesticides. Of the 34 pesticides, which included organochlorines, organophosphates and carbamates, 19 were detected in the blood or urine of the study participants.

Health Dangers of Organophosphates

These chemicals, which are used as insecticides in homes and offices and for lawns and gardens, in flea treatments for pets and are sprayed onto agricultural crops, have been linked with cancer, decreasing male fertility and Parkinson's disease. However, no one really know for sure what harm low, long-term exposure to such chemicals could cause. What is known, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, is that organophosphate poisoning could result in the following issues.

Possible Health Effects of Organophosphates
Where are They Found?

If you'd like to limit your exposure to organophosphates, be aware that common sources of these pesticides include: