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About this book
Fundamentals of Toxicology: Essential Concepts and Applications provides a crisp, easy-to-understand overview of the most important concepts, applications, and ideas needed to learn the basics of toxicology. Written by a pre-eminent toxicologist with over five decades of teaching experience, this comprehensive resource offers the hands-on knowledge needed for a strong foundation in the wide field of toxicology. Fundamentals of Toxicology includes a clear structure divided into five units to assist learning and understanding.
The first unit provides extensive coverage on the background of toxicology including commonly used definitions and historical perspective, while following units cover: basic concepts; regulatory requirements and good laboratory practices, including types of toxicology testing and evaluation; toxic agents and adverse effects on health; and analytical, forensic, and diagnostic toxicology. This is an essential book for advanced students in toxicology and across the biomedical sciences, life sciences, and environmental sciences who want to learn the concepts of toxicology, as well as early researchers needing to refresh outside of their specialty.
- Explains the essential concepts of toxicology in a clear fashion
- Provides in-depth coverage of testing protocols, common drugs, chemicals, and laboratory-based diagnostic and analytical toxicology
- Explores the history, foundations, and most recent concepts of toxicology
- Serves as an essential reference for advanced students in toxicology and across the biomedical, life, and environmental sciences who want to learn the concepts of toxicology
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Yes, you can access Fundamentals of Toxicology by P.K. Gupta,PK Gupta in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Medicine & Toxicology. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Unit IV
Outline
Chapter 17
Toxic effects of pesticides (agrochemicals)
Abstract
This chapter deals with the adverse effects of pesticides. The term āagricultural chemicalsā has largely been replaced by the term āpesticides.ā Approximately 1000 pesticides are available in various preparations. The pesticides are biocides also capable of killing all forms of life. They are among the most widely used group of chemicals in the modern world and have provided immense benefits to humankind by significantly enhancing food production and improving health via nutrition. Among pesticides, organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides, rodenticide (warfarin), and fumigant (aluminum phosphide) are the common causes of suicide poisonings because of their availability. Their massive and indiscriminate use in crop protection, food preservation, and insect and pest control has led to acute or chronic poisoning incidents in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, and has resulted in widespread ecological adverse effects.
Keywords
Pesticides; agrochemicals; organochlorine insecticides (OC); organophosphorus insecticides (OP); carbamate insecticides (CM); pyrethroids; formamidines; nicotinoids; botanical insecticides; fumigants; fungicides; organic insecticides; herbicides; rodenticide
17.1 Introduction
The term āagricultural chemicalsā has largely been replaced by the term āpesticides.ā Approximately 1000 pesticides are available in various preparations such as dusting powder, emulsions, solutions, water dispensable powders, fumigants, and others. Pesticides are biocides capable of killing all forms of life. They are among the most widely used group of chemicals in the modern world and have provided immense benefits to humankind by enhancing food production and improving health via nutrition. However, their massive and indiscriminate use in crop protection, food preservation, and insect and pest control has led to acute or chronic poisoning incidents in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, and has resulted in widespread ecological adverse effects.
A survey has indicated that insecticides are the most commonly used poisons consumed to commit suicide in India because they are easily available. Accidental poisoning as an occupational hazard is also common among those who spray insecticides on agricultural farms. Mass accidental food contamination due to pesticides is another cause of poisoning in India and other developing countries in the world. Homicide by these poisons is not possible because of the strong kerosene-like odor. Among insecticides, the organophosphorus (OP) group of compounds is used as nerve gas during warfare; these compounds are particularly potent because they cause death more rapidly and frequently than other insecticides. Among other pesticides, OP and carbamate (CM) insecticides, rodenticide (warfarin), and fumigant (aluminum phosphide) are the common causes of suicide poisonings in India because of their availability. Therefore, poisoning due to these pesticides has been dealt with in greater detail.
17.2 Historical Background
Chemicals have been used to kill or control pests for centuries. The Chinese used arsenic to control insects, and the early Romans used common salt to control weeds and used sulfur to control insects. In the 1800s, pyrethrin (the flowers of the chrysanthemum, Pyrethrum cineraefolium) was found to have insecticidal properties. The roots of certain Derris plant species (Derris elliptica and Lonchocarpus spp.) have the active ingredient, rotenone, which was used for insect control. During the 1940s, a number of chemicals, such as chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides (such as DDT) and phenoxy acid herbicides (such as 2,4-D), were introduced. Natural compounds such as red squill, derived from the bulbs of red squill (Urginea (Scilla) maritima) were effective in controlling rodents. Subsequently, a plethora of pesticides were synthesized and introduced on the market.
17.3 Definition and Classification
Pesticides are used to control, kill, or repel pests. They are also known as economic poisons, regulated by federal and state laws. Depending on what a compound is designed to do, pesticides have been subclassified into a number of categories:
1. Insecticides: Organochlorine (OC), OP, CM, pyrethrins and pyrethroids, formamidines, nicotinoids, and natural products (rotenone and nicotine)
2. Fumigants: Inorganic (aluminum phosphide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon disulfide, sulfur dioxide), organic (methyl bromide, ethylene dibromide, dibromochloropropane)
3. Fungicides: Inorganic (sulfur, metals), organic (organomercurial, chlorophenols, phathalimides, etc.)
4. Herbicides: Inorganic (arsenicals, chlorates), organic (chlorophenoxy and its derivatives, dinitrophenols, bipyridyls, ureas, and other herbicides)
5. Rodenticide: Warfarin
In addition, there are other groups of pesticides such as nematicide, acaricide, algicides, bird repellents, and mammal repellents.
An important pesticide with widespread use and that is responsible for mass poisoning or have long-term effect have been dealt with in greater depth. A discussion of all groups of pesticides is beyond the scope of this book.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed definitions of pesticides based on their toxicity. Category I pesticides are highly hazardous, are classified as restricted use, and have an oral LD50 ā¤1 mg/kg of body weight. Category II pesticides are moderately toxic and have an oral LD50 ā¤500 mg/kg. Category III pesticides are generally nontoxic and have an oral LD50 ā¤15,000 mg/kg. In addition, the US EPA has developed a ācarcinogenicity categorizationā to classify pesticides for carcinogenicity. The WHO classification o...
Table of contents
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- About the Author
- Foreword
- Preface
- Unit I
- Unit II
- Unit III
- Unit IV
- Unit V
- Further Reading
- Index