Parathion and other pesticides with nitro groups

2 Parathion and other pesticides with nitro groups Parathion provides an excellent example for describing important differences in transformation between microorganisms, animals, and sunlight  

Paraoxon is the toxic metabolite produced in animals, whereas diethyl-phosphorothionate is a detoxication product. Microorganisms may, under anaerobic conditions, produce amino-parathion, which has a much lower animal toxicity than parathion. Therefore, parathion by oral administration is less toxic to ruminants than to other mammals. The highly active rumen flora detoxicates parathion by reducing it to amino-parathion. However, parathion deposited on leaves or dust particles can absorb light energy and be isomerized to iso-parathion, which has a high animal toxicity. 

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Parathion and other pesticides with nitro groups... 

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