Organophosphates

Highly poisonous agricultural insecticides that are harmful when absorbed through the skin, by inhalation, or by swallowing. Among the many possible symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, blurred vision, excessive sweating, headache, confusion, and twitching. Severe poisoning may cause breathing difficulty, palpitations, seizures, and unconsciousness. If left untreated, death may result. Treatment may include washing out the stomach (see lavage, gastric) or removing soiled clothing and washing contaminated skin. Injections of atropine may be given, and oxygen therapy and/or artificial ventilation may be needed. With rapid treatment, people may survive doses that would otherwise have been fatal. Long term effects of organophosphates in sheep dips are thought to be responsible for debilitating illness with neural, muscular, and mental symptoms.