Toxicology of organic phosphate insecticides.

The development of effective new insecticides has created potential industrial health hazards to people engaged in their manufacture and application, as well as to those with casual exposures. A group of these insecticides known as the organic phosphates is extremely toxic, destroying the enzyme cholinesterase and exerting a cholinergic action on the mammalian animal. A discussion of the origin, chemistry, and pharmacology of these compounds, along with a description of symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of poisoning is presented. Methods of prevention of poisoning and control measures for the safe use of these compounds are described.