Organophosphates Toxicity: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

Pesticides are composed of chemicals that can be employed to kill pests or minimize their negative effects. Pesticides and other organophosphate containing compounds have been beneficial in agriculture, forestry, industries, and in households (as personal insect repellents). Chemical compounds known as organophosphates (OP) are produced when phosphoric acid and alcohol undergo esterification. Although pesticides are beneficial, they pose dangers to both humans and the environment and include the following are types of pesticides: herbicide, insecticides (which may include regulators for insect growth, termiticides), nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, antimicrobial, and fungicide. Organophosphate insecticides primarily work by inhibiting carboxyl ester hydrolases, especially acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter that is broken down by the enzyme AChE into acetic acid and choline. Non-specific nature and improper application of pesticides has led to toxicities such as eye stinging, blisters, rashes, blindness, nausea, lightheadedness, diarrhea, and even death. Long-term consequences include malignancies, birth defects, reproductive harm, immunotoxicity, neurological, renal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and endocrine system disruption. Organophosphate poisoning can be diagnosed in the laboratory through serum cholinesterase, urine alkylphosphate, and liver function test, while treatment can be done by administering antioxidants and emetics. This study is tailored towards highlighting organophosphates toxicity: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.