Organophosphates, mental disorders

People who should not work with organophosphate insecticides are those with organic central nervous system disease, mental disorders, epilepsy, pronounced endocrine disorders, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, circulatory disorders, gastroenteric diseases, liver or kidney disease, and chronic conjunctivitis and keratitis (Medved and Kagan 1983). 

It has been reported that about 12% of the 63 million children under the age of 18 in the United States suffer from one or more mental disorders, and exposure to toxic substances before or after birth has been identified as one of the several risk factors that appear to make certain children vulnerable to these disorders. Reports have also indicated that fetuses and children are more vulnerable to the effects of certain neurotoxic substances than are adults. Children exposed to a mix of pesticides, including organophosphates, showed diminished short-term memory and disturbed hand-eye coordination and drawing ability, whereas unexposed children of the same tribe showed normal development. Preschool children from agricultural communities in the United States showed poorer performance on motor speed and latency than did those of urban communities. ... 

Organophosphate pesticides do not cause a significant percentage of major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they do cause severe psychiatric symptoms of both acute and chronic duration. The most prominent psychiatric symptoms include early anxiety and emotional lability, followed by insomnia, excessive dreaming, nightmares, and reduced concentration. Other symptoms listed in Table 4-3 usually develop only after exposures severe enough to cause physical symptoms but may occur at lower doses in individuals with genetic vulnerability. The limited informa-... 

Exposure to insecticides also carries high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder. Insecticides exacerbate preexisting mental conditions, and atropine treatment of OP poisoning may induce psychotic symptoms. Incomplete assessment may overlook organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy presenting as fatigue or weakness. 

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