Occupational Toxicology and Occupational Hygiene Aspects of Organophosphate and Carbamate Anticholinesterases with Particular Reference to Pesticides

Publisher Summary Organophosphates (OPs) and carbamates (CMs) may have a wide spectrum of potential occupational toxicity, and hence, the necessary protective and precautionary measures dictated by occupational hygiene considerations may be extensive and vary for differing chemical groups. The most geographically extensive and quantitatively greatest application of OPs and CMs is as pesticides used in agriculture, horticulture, public health protection, and domestically. OP and CM anticholinesterases (anti-ChEs) have a wide spectrum of applications that includes pesticides in agriculture and horticulture, insecticides in domestic and public health applications, use in general commerce, use in therapeutic medicine, and as chemical warfare and terrorist agents. During normal civilian use, and when handled correctly with the appropriate recommended protective and precautionary measures, they can be used safely. However, because of their widespread and sometimes uncontrolled usage, there is a potential for misuse. Also, because of the high biological activity of many OPs and CMs, the likelihood of adverse effects occurring from accidental, and sometimes deliberate, exposure is high. Although the principal mechanism of action that underlies the practical use of OPs and CMs, namely inhibition of the cholinesterase group of enzymes, is also responsible for some of their known human toxicity, because of the wide range of chemical structures involved, the potential for numerous and differing toxic effects that are mediated by other mechanisms also exists (e.g., inflammation, immunotoxicity, myopathy, genetic toxicity, oncogenicity, and developmental and reproductive toxicity).