Organophosphates

What are organophosphates?

There are almost 900 different bug killers
(pesticides) that can be used in the United States. A small number (37)
belong to a class of insect killers (insecticides) known as
organophosphates. The chemicals in this class kill insects by
disrupting their brains and nervous systems. Unfortunately, these
chemicals also can harm the brains and nervous systems of animals and
humans. These chemicals stop a key enzyme in the nervous system called
cholinesterase from working, and this can make people ill.

How can someone come into contact with organophosphates?

Poisoning from organophosphates can happen through -

• ingestion, eating or drinking something that has an organophosphate in it;
• inhalation, breathing in air that has an organophosphate in it; or
• dermal contact, having an organophosphate touch your skin or open wound.

Organophosphates as weapons: As a weapon,
organophosphates may be spread through the air. It also can be an
"agent of opportunity." This means that someone could explode the
vehicle of transportation (truck or train) that is being used to ship
the chemical, or destroy tanks that store the chemical. The
organophosphates would then be released into the air.

Please note: Just because you come into contact with an organophosphate does not mean you will get sick from it.

What happens if someone gets sick from an organophosphate?

Symptoms of mild organophosphate poisonin g may include the following:

• runny nose
• chest tightness
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• muscle twitching
• confusion

Severely poisoned people may develop seizures, paralysis or coma; some may die.

How likely are organophosphates to kill someone?

Organophosphates can be very toxic. However, certain
classes of this group are more poisonous than others. Overall, t he
effects of an organophosphate will depend on the type of chemical the
person comes into contact with, concentration of exposure, length of
time and way the person is exposed. A highly concentrated solution or
large amount in the air is more likely to cause severe effects,
including death.

What is the treatment for organophosphate poisoning?

• Prevention of illness after contact: Leave the area where the chemical was released and move to fresh air.

• Remove clothing.

• • Quickly take off clothing that may have the chemical on it. If
    possible, any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be
    cut off the body instead so the chemical does not get near the eyes,
    mouth or nose. If helping other people remove their clothing, try to
    avoid touching any contaminated areas.

• Wash affected areas.
  • As quickly as possible, wash any chemical from the skin with lots of soap and water.
  • If the eyes are burning or vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • If contact lenses are worn, remove them and put them with the
    contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in. If eyeglasses
    are worn, wash them with soap and water. Eyeglasses can be put back on
    after they are washed.
  • If you are wearing
    jewelry that you can wash with soap and water, wash it and put it back
    on. If it cannot be washed, put it with the contaminated clothing.

• Discard contaminated items

• • Place the clothing and any other contaminated items inside a plastic
    bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't
    avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure where the
    contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves or use tongs, sticks or
    similar objects. Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should
    also be placed in the bag.
  • Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag.
  • Call the local county health department right away. (Visit
    www.idph.state.il.us//local/alpha.htm for a listing of all county
    health departments in Illinois or check your local phone book.)
  • When the local or state health department or emergency personnel
    arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department
    or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle
    the plastic bags yourself.
• Treatment of illness:
  If an organophosphate is ingested, the person's stomach may be pumped
  at a hospital. Other times, the person is given activated charcoal to
  drink. Activated charcoal is a substance that binds with the poison in
  the stomach to help the poison pass out of the body naturally.

Hospitals and other health care experts have medicines that reverse the effects of organophosphate poisonings.

Is there a vaccine for organophosphate poisoning?

No, there is no vaccine for organophosphate poisoning.

What should be done if someone comes into contact with an organophosphate?

If you think that you or someone you know may have
come into contact with an organophosphate, contact the local county
health department right away. (Visit http://www.idph.state.il.us/local/alpha.htm for a listing of all county health departments in Illinois or check your local phone book.)

If you or someone you know is showing symptoms of
organophosphate poisoning, call your health care provider or the
Illinois Poison Center right away. The toll-free number for the poison
center is 1-800-222-1222.

Where can one get more information about organophosphates?

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://
www.epa.gov

Illinois Department of Public Health
http://www.idph.state.il.us

Illinois Poison Center
http://www.IllinoisPoisonCenter.org