Phosphorus: from Urine to fire

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Phosphorus: from Urine to fire

Part 7: Organophosphates - cure or curse?
Peter E. Childs

In our study of the chemistry of phosphorus we have looked at both positive and negative aspects of its use. This final article in the series looks at one of the most controversial class of phosphorus compounds: organophosphates. Organophosphates are compounds where phosphorus (a non-metal) is bonded to carbon through an oxygen of the phosphate group. Other oxygens can be replaced by halogens, sulphur, organic groups etc. (See parathion for an example.) Their history starts around WWII where they being researched independently as nerve gases (in the UK) and as insecticides, and then as poison gases (in Germany). Sarin, as used in the 1995 Tokyo subway terrorist attack, is an organophosphate developed as a nerve gas. (See http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/weap.html for a good educational site explaining the action of nerve gases.) Sarin is a relatively simple molecule with the formula:

A variety of organophosphates have been developed since the 1940s as insecticides, either contact insecticides (where the chemical is absorbed from the surface of the plant) or as systemic insecticides (where the chemical is taken up by the plant into the sap and only affects sap-sucking insects, like aphids). Parathion, phosmet and malathion are examples of contact insecticides. Dimethoate and fenamiphos are examples of systemic insecticides. The organophosphates function as cholesterinase inhibitors, thus acting as neurotoxins. The article at URL gives an overview of the medical effects: http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic286.htm Some organophosphate compounds are used in medicine, for example, in treating Alzheimer's disease. Injections of atropine are used to stop the effect of nerve gases or insecticide poisoning, together with a specific antidote. There is controversy over their use because they are very toxic to animals and humans, even though they break down quickly. Exposure to the compounds, for example by spraying without protective equipment or eating treated products, can be fatal and there are many examples of deaths over the years. The main controversy is over the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of organophosphate. There is anecdotal evidence to support the harmful effects of longtrm exposure, for example among sheep farmers, but the jury is still out. Mark Purdey, a UK farmer, has suggested that exposure of cattle to organophosphates may have triggered off BSE. and nv-CJD This is controversial and most scientists working in the area reject this hypothesis. It has, however, been taken up enthusiastically by environmental groups. (See the article at: http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/magazine/issue12/cw12f5.html , which supports Mark Purdey's viewpoint.) Typical organophosphate insecticides are: parathion, marathion, phosmet etc. There are thousands of organophosphates in use, which vary in their toxicity and harmful effects. They have replaced chlorine-based pesticides, because organophosphates are less persistent in the environment. The structure of parathion, a common organophosphate, is shown below.

http://www3.ul.ie/~childsp/CinA/Issue67/TOC48_Phosphorus.html

5/15/2012

Phosphorus: from Urine to fire

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For an index of pesticides, with their names, formulae etc. see: http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/index_cn_frame.html

For further reading : In addition to the websites above: John Emsley, The Shocking History of Phosphorus, Macmillan 2000 (In the USA this is called The Thirteenth Element.) Arthur D.F. Toy and Edward N. Walsh, Phosphorus Chemistry in Everyday Living, 2nd. edition, ACS 1987 (chs.18,19,20) More websites: Reports of two UK government committees on the health implications of organophosphates can be read at: www.doh.gov.uk/cot/op/htm and http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/whats_happening/research/pdf_res_notes/rn0045.pdf Details of a recent EPA (USA) assessment of risk from organophosphate insecticides, including an executive summary and detailed scientific chapters will be available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.

http://www3.ul.ie/~childsp/CinA/Issue67/TOC48_Phosphorus.html

5/15/2012