To obtain a high yield of food grains, many types of pesticides have been developed, which in turn has facilitated the prosperity of the human race and brought relief to farmers. After WWII, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides were extensively used worldwide. These early organophosphorus pesticides occasionally caused poisoning, while some organochlorine pesticides persisted in the e...

Enzyme-based Detoxification of Organophosphorus Neurotoxic Pesticides and Chemical Warfare Agents. (December 2007) Rory James Kern, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. James Wild There are some 15,000 known organophosphorus chemicals. Some of these OP’s, including VX and paraoxon, demonstrate an acute neurotoxicity due to the inhibition of cholinergic enzymes. Organophos...

Chlorpyrifos, a widely used organophosphorus insecticide having many urban and agricultural pest control uses, is one of the major pesticides detected in Taiwan fishery products. Whereas previous studies examined, this study explored possible sources of chlorpyrifos residue, particularly in farmed fish. Eight hundred fourteen samples of marketable fish were analyzed for chlorpyrifos residues. O...

Burkholderia species are widely distributed in the environment. A Burkholderia zhejiangensis strain was isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil from an agricultural field in Mexico and identified as an organophosphorus compound-degrading bacterium. In this study, we report the draft genome sequence of Burkholderia zhejiangensis strain CEIB S4-3.

Severe organophosphorus or carbamate pesticide poisoning is an important clinical problem in many countries of the world. Unfortunately, little clinical research has been performed and little evidence exists with which to determine best therapy. A cohort study of acute pesticide poisoned patients was established in Sri Lanka during 2002; so far, more than 2000 pesticide poisoned patients have b...