Organophosphorus compounds, toxic effects treatment

Two factors contribute to the safety of oximes in the treatment of acute poisoning by organophosphorus compounds recommended doses are small, compared with doses likely to cause even mild toxic effects in normal subjects and adverse effects of oximes are reduced in the presence of poisoning by an organophosphorus compound. 

For example, no difference in the toxicity of organophosphorus compounds to larvae of the midge Chrironomus riparius was observed between pulsed and continuous exposures (Kallander et al. 1997). In the same study, however, two 1-hour pulses caused significantly fewer symptoms of intoxication than 2 hours of continuous exposure to carbamate compounds, when animals were placed in clean water for at least 2 to 6 hours between treatments (Kallander et al. 1997), suggesting that detoxification or elimination of the toxicant during the toxicant-free period can reduce the toxic effects of the earlier exposures. 

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