Organophosphate compounds chlorpyrifos

Biocides most often found in the indoor environment are chlorinated hydrocarbons like chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, lindane, heptachlor and methoxychlor, pyrethroids like cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, and permethrin, organophosphates like chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, isofenfos, and malathion, carbamates like ben-diocarb, carbaryl and propoxur and chlorophenols like pentachlorophenol (PCP), chlorocresol (4-chloro-3-methylphenol) and o-phenylphenol. Residues formed in house dust may vary in different countries (Butte, 2003), but biocides like chlorpyrifos, DDT, methoxychlor, permethrin, pentchlorophenol and propoxur seem to be the active compounds in biocide formulations even in different continents, as they are found equally in house dust samples form Germany and the USA (Becker et al., 2002 Butte, 2003 Camann, Colt and Zuniga, 2002). Concentrations of biocides in house dust are mostly in the milligram per kilogram range, they seldom exceed a microgram per cubic meter in indoor air. 

The Committee examined five organophosphate pesticides (acephate, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, disulfoton, and ethion), which are all cholinesterase inhibitors and may be present as residues in fruits and vegetables. Chlorpyrifos was used as the index compound. The TEF was defined as the ratio of the NOAEL or LOAEL for each pesticide to the NOAEL or LOAEL for chlorpyrifos. TEFs based on LOAELs were used when a NOAEL could mot be established for two of the compounds. 

The UK Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) has decided to use the TEF approach for assessment of combined risk from exposure to mixtures of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors (organophosphate (OP) compounds and carbamates) (PSD 1999). Despite clear differences in the action of carbamates and OP compounds, the index compounds selected for all acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors were either aldicarb (carbamate) or chlorpyrifos (OP). The POD for determining relative potency was predetermined as the dose level that produced 20% inhibition of red blood cell cholinesterase in a 90-day dietary study in rats. 

Some organophosphates have also been found effective against various tapeworms and flukes in animals chlorpyrifos (25) was used to eliminate Echinococcus granulosus and Taenia hydatigena from dogs, while cyclophosphamide (26) and a few other organophosphorus compounds (27-29a,b) exhibit marked activity against different tapeworms in experimental animals [22]. Bromphenphos (30) kills the liver flukes. Fasciola hepatica in sheep and cattle at a dose of 12-16 mg/kg [23]. 

Slotkin TA (2005). Developmental neurotoxicity of organophosphorus a case study of chlorpyrifos. In Toxicology of Organophosphate and Carbamate Compounds (R Gupta, ed.), pp. 293-314. San Diego, CA, USA Academic Press. 

Malathion is a widely used member of a class of pesticides known as organophospate derivatives. It is biodegradable and less toxic (LDg for female rats is 1000 mg/kg) than DDT. Several other organophosphorus compounds are modifications of this basic structure. They include dimethoate (LD = 387 mg/kg), chlorpyrifos (LD q = 95-270 mg/kg), and methyl parathion (LD o = 18 -50 mg/kg). These organophosphates often are used in the treatment of many pests that are found on vegetables, or, in the case of methyl parathion, on cotton plants. 

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