Toxicology of Organophosphate and Carbamate Compounds

Book excerpt: This text/reference book provides the most comprehensive coverage of anticholinesterase compounds (Organophosphates and Carbamates), which constitute the largest number of chemicals that are primarily used as insecticides in agriculture, industry, and around the home/garden. Some OPs (nerve agents) have been used in chemical warfare and terrorist attacks, while some OPs and CMs have been recommended as therapeutic agents in human medicine as well as in veterinary medicine. Many chemicals of both classes are extremely toxic and lack selectivity, thus their inadvertent/accidental use continues to pose a threat to human and animal health, aquatic systems and wildlife. These anticholinesterase agents produce a variety of toxicological effects in target and nontarget organs. In light of this complexicity, this multi-authored book is written by the well known scientists from many countries. The book is organized into nine sections, with a total of 49 chapters, to provide in-depth knowledge on various aspects of OP and CM compounds, including their use, classification, mechanism-based toxicity, and prophylactic and therapeutic measurements. Several chapters are written with special emphasis to cover timely topics, such as chemical warfare agents, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling, structure and function of cholinesterases, paraoxonase, carboxylesterases; developmental neurotoxicity, the intermediate syndrome, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and DNA damage/gene expression and carcinogenesis. Section-VI with 5 chapters is specifically devoted to risk assessment, and safety and regulatory guidelines for pesticides. - Describes everything you need to know about Organophosphates and Carbamates - Extensively covers pesticides, nerve agents, therapeutic drugs, and flame retardants - Describes epidemiology of the world's major disasters involving Organophosphates and Carbamates - Covers animal, human, aquatic, and wildlife toxicity of Anticholinesterases - Insights into in-depth cholinergic and noncholinergic mechanisms of toxicity - Describes recent advancements in cholinesterases, paraoxonases, carboxylesterases, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, cardiac and pulmonary toxicity, and carcinogenesis - Provides in vitro and in vivo models for neurotoxicity testing - Integrates knowledge of studies in lab animals and humans - Offers risk/safety assessment and national/international guidelines for permissible levels of pesticide residues - Describes management of Anticholinesterase poisoning in humans