Types of pesticides:
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Organophosphorus insecticides:
Insecticides are pesticides specially designed to kill insects that can damage crops and cause harm. OP pesticides are highly used in agriculture and are one of the strongest substances believed to be the reason for deaths and poisoning-causing agents. In modern times, these agents have become a matter of attention and discussion as they focus on long-term health consequences as OP’s are absorbed by guts and respiratory tract. Severe poisoning can cause respiratory organ damage and failure, which is a serious indicator of a poor outcome. This can occur due to various factors having a direct impact on the body’s ability to regulate breathing, muscle weakness, constriction of airways, and an accumulation of excess mucus in the lungs. -
Carbamate insecticides:
Carbamate insecticides also work like OP insecticides to kill pests. Whereas carbamate insecticides cause fewer infections and diseases in humans because they fact are less poisonous as compared to OP as a result few chronic effects are reported. -
Neo-nicotinoid insecticides:
It was developed in the 1970s-90s as a type of synthetic nicotine and includes other chemical substances like acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam. This is one of the highly sellable and used pesticides because its human toxicity is mild relative to other pesticides due to its selective toxicity for insects and poor CNS penetration. However, it is a poisonous substance and needs to be used safely. -
Paraquat:
Paraquat pesticides are commonly used in many parts of the world. On the other hand, its usage is banned in Europe. This is extremely poisonous, and despite intense medical efforts, its poisoning cases often end in fatality. Most deaths occur due to intentional ingestion as compared to the number of accidental absorptions through the skin. -
It is a post-emergence herbicide used globally. It functions by disturbing the production of amino acids, specifically by inhibiting the shikimate pathway, it is a crucial process for the synthesis of these molecules which takes place only in plants that’s why it is less harmful to humans. It is created with 7 to 15% of polyoxymethylene amine. Its poisoning symptoms can be noticed only in gastrointestinal signs whereas it can be severe to coma as well. -
Aluminium phosphide:
The highest cases of fatality are reported due to the use of Aluminium phosphide in rodenticides and fumigants to protect crops. According to reports, more than 65% of individuals died because of its consumption. While reacting with water in the stomach, this substance releases more toxic gases that impact multiple organs and result in death. -
Chlorphenoxyacetate herbicides:
It is rarely used pesticide because it is an extremely poisonous and non-treatable chemical. It is not commonly available.