Organophosphates and Health

Few chemical compounds created by man have caused greater controversy than organophosphates. Conceived as insecticides, they have also been developed to become the most feared of chemical weapons. The control of vectors of diseases from which millions die or are disabled is heavily dependent on organophosphates, as are efforts to maintain food production in the face of uncontrolled population growth, diminishing arable land and the possibility of global warming. As the toxicity of organophosphates is non-specific, it has caused ill health and death in man, and has contributed to adverse ecological effects. This book, written by recognised experts, studies and presents information in a manner that basic scientists, medical personnel, environmentalists, agriculturists and those in public health and occupational medicine will find essential when considering the use of organophosphates in their disciplines. The text primarily covers health aspects, with discussions on related social, economic, environmental and agricultural issues that concern all inhabitants of the global village. Contents:Organophosphates: History, Chemistry, Pharmacology (T C Marrs)Socio-Economics, Health Issues and Pesticides (L Karalliedde & T Meredith)Factors Influencing Organophosphate Toxicity in Humans (P Edwards)Organophosphorus Chemical Warfare Agents (T C Marrs & R L Maynard)The Acute Cholinergic Syndrome (L Karalliedde & J Henry)The Intermediate Syndrome (J L de Bleeker)Organophosphoros-Induced Delayed Polyneuropathy (N Senanayake)The Effects of Organophosphates on Neuropsychiatric and Psychological Functioning (M Lader)Effects of Organophosphates on the Neuromuscular Junction and Muscle (S Feldman)Organophosphates and the Cardiovascular System (A M Saadeh)Gulf War Syndrome, Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance and Organophosphate Compounds: Diseases in Search of Causal Hypothesis (J Brent & L Klein)Management of Organophosphorus Compound Poisoning (L Karalliedde & L Szinicz)Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity of Organophosphates (M D Waters et al.)Organophosphorus Agents and the Environment (E F Hill)Biochemical and Toxicological Investigations Related to OP Compounds (R Swaminathan & B Widdop)Monitoring Occupational Exposures to Organophosphorus Compounds (A Moretto & M Lotti)The Global Picture of Organophosphate Insecticide Poisoning (L Karalliedde et al.) Readership: Agriculturists, veterinary scientists, intensivists, general physicians, environmental scientists, scientists involved in chemical warfare and defence establishments, preventive medicine specialists, tropical medicine physicians, graduate students in toxicology, public health, tropical medicine and related fields. Keywords:Chemical Compounds;Organophosphates;Pharmacology;Insecticides;Syndrome;Weapons;Neuropsychiatric;Vectors;Cardiovascular;Diseases;Carcinogenic;Toxicity;Occupational Health;Socio-EconomicsReviews:“Overall the book provides an interesting account of a globally important public health problem.”Crop Protection