Prevention and Management of Organophosphate Poisoning

Abstract

The organophosphates are the pesticides most often involved in serious human poisoning. That involvement is likely to increase, because recent governmental actions against the use of DDT and related organochlorine pesticides will likely increase the domestic and agricultural use of the organophosphate pesticides. Accordingly, practicing physicians in all communities should know how to diagnose and treat organophosphate intoxication and how to advise patients on the principles of poisoning prevention. The organophosphate pesticides, a closely related family of chemicals, share a number of characteristics which are of considerable importance to the clinician. They are widely used as insecticides, and all are cholinesterase inhibitors of varying potency. All may penetrate the intact skin but do not accumulate in body tissues as do many of the chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. The organophosphates are nonpersistent in the environment; that is, after application they rapidly break down into relatively nontoxic substances. Lastly, all are capable of