Mode of Action: Acetocholinesterase inhibitor, damaging nerve function, except for glyphosate.

Immediate Effects: Behavioral disturbances; uncoordination; muscle twitching; headache; dizziness; nausea; anxiety; irritability; loss of memory; sleep pattern change; restlessness; weakness; tremor; abdominal cramps; diarrhea; sweating; salivation; tearing; excessive nasal discharge; blurred vision; constriction of pupil; slowed heartbeat; confusion; incontinence; hypertension.

Long Term Effects: Delayed neurotoxicity ["...tingling and burning sensations in the limb extremities followed by weakness in the lower limbs and ataxia. This progresses to paralysis, which in several cases, affect the upper limbs also...Recovery is seldom complete in adults; with the passage of time the clinical picture changes from flaccid to a spastic type paralysis" WHO (1986, p. 59)]; some are cumulative; persistent anorexia; weakness; malaise; nerve damage via destruction of myelin sheath around nerve fibers; carcinogens; mutagens; fetotoxins; hormonal inhibition; eye damage; suspect mutagens; suspect carcinogens; sterility and impotence; embryotoxins; suspect teratogens; immunotoxins; indication of bone marrow damage and aplastic anemia; kills white blood cells; sperm and other reproductive abnormalities; suspect viral enhancers; ulcers; abnormal brain waves; reduced protein synthesis in fetus; liver damage; kidney damage; suppressed antibody production; decreased auditory attention, visual memory, problem solving, balance, and dexterity.

Environmental Effects: Responsible for the deaths of large numbers of birds on turf and in agriculture; affect breeding success in birds; embryotoxins in birds; can change feeding habits in birds. Surface water contaminants.

Examples of pesticides in this class:

acephate bensulide chlorpyrifos  diazinon

ethoprop  fenamiphos fosetyl-al isazophos

isofenphos  isopropylamine salt of glyphosate malathion  trichlorfon