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American Journal of Public Health Jan 1979Following reports of ten cases of possible organophosphate pesticide poisoning in florists exposed to pesticide residues on cut flowers, we conducted a prospective...
Following reports of ten cases of possible organophosphate pesticide poisoning in florists exposed to pesticide residues on cut flowers, we conducted a prospective random-sample survey to determine residual pesticide levels on flowers imported into the United States via Miami, Florida. A sample of all flowers imported into Miami on three days in January 1977 showed that 18 (17.7 per cent) of 105 lots contained pesticide residue levels greater than 5 ppm, and that three lots had levels greater than 400 ppm. Azodrin (monocrotophos) was the most important contaminant with levels of 7.7--4,750 ppm detected in nine lots. We examined 20 quarantine workers in Miami and 12 commercial florists exposed to contaminated flowers. Occasional nonspecific symptoms compatible with possible organophosphate exposure were noted, but we found no abnormalities in plasma or red blood cell cholinesterase levels. This study documents a previously unrecognized potential source of occupational pesticide exposure and suggests that safety standards should be set for residue levels on cut flowers.
Topics: Adult; Cholinesterases; Commerce; Humans; Insecticides; Male; Monocrotophos; Occupational Diseases; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Plants; United States
PubMed: 420356
DOI: 10.2105/ajph.69.1.53 -
Quantitative studies of the effect of antagonists on the acute toxicity of organophosphates in rats.British Journal of Pharmacology Sep 19701. The subcutaneous acute toxicities of the vinyl phosphate pesticides monocrotophos, dicrotophos, chlorfenvinphos, crotoxyphos, dichlorvos, mevinphos, and of the...
1. The subcutaneous acute toxicities of the vinyl phosphate pesticides monocrotophos, dicrotophos, chlorfenvinphos, crotoxyphos, dichlorvos, mevinphos, and of the experimental compounds SD 4455 (cis-2-carboxy-1-methylvinyl dimethylphosphate) and SD 7779 (cis-2-(1-phenylethoxy) carbonyl-1-methylvinyl diethylphosphate) have been determined in female rats.2. The effects on the log dose-probit mortality curves to the vinylphosphates of the therapeutic subcutaneous administration of methylatropine, atropine, N-methylpyridinium-2-aldoxime methanesulphonate and obidoxime have been studied.3. Elevation of the LD50 values by the therapeutic regimens was shown to be an unsatisfactory measure of therapeutic efficiency, while reduction of the effect of a maximally lethal dose (LD90) to less than that of a minimally lethal dose (LD10) provided a better quantitative measure of therapeutic efficiency.4. The combination of atropine sulphate (50 mumol base/kg) with obidoxime (250 mumol/kg) was found to be generally the most effective of the antidotal regimens.
Topics: Alkenes; Animals; Antidotes; Atropine; Drug Synergism; Female; Oximes; Pesticides; Phosphoric Acids; Pyridinium Compounds; Rats; Sulfonic Acids
PubMed: 5487002
DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb10617.x