Bromophos — toxicity, side effects, diseases and environmental impacts

Bromophos is classified as an organophosphate chemical that is commonly used as a pesticide to fend off sucking and chewing insects such as vegetable root maggots, sawflies, fruit flies and aphids as well as beetles, mangold fly and codling moths. An article published on the In Chem website also notes that bromophos can be used as  an emulsifiable concentrate, wettable powder and granular or dust formulation. Likewise, the chemical can be utilized as a seed dressing, aerosol formulation and fog solution.

The insecticide is widely used in various parts of Europe and other countries including Algeria, Canada and Kuwait. Likewise, the toxic compound is utilized in Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua and Pakistan as well as South Africa, Syria and Venezuela.

List of known side effects

An entry posted on the Pesticide Action Network North America website classifies bromophos as a highly carcinogenic compound and may increase the risk of reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity and acute toxicity. Likewise, an article published on the Toxicology Data Network website has cited several studies linking the toxic pesticide to a host of adverse health conditions.

According to the entry, the harmful chemical is particularly detrimental to the brain and the nerves. The article cautions that the toxic pesticide may cause headache, weakness, feeling of heaviness in the head and loss of sleep. The article has also warned that bromophos exposure may result in the onset of restlessness, anxiety, dizziness and drowsiness as well as tremor, ataxia and confusion.

Exposure to the hazardous chemical may even induce coma. In addition, the harmful insecticide is found to trigger muscular twitching of the eyelids, tongue, face, and neck, which in turn may progress to convulsions. The article also stresses that exposure to the chemical may lead to disturbed sleep, memory decline, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. Likewise, the insecticide is found to trigger the onset of neuritis, paresis and paralysis, loss of orientation, and fatigue.

Moreover, the harmful pesticide is known to cause negative effects on both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. A case study has revealed that a woman at 34 to 35 weeks’ gestation who has been exposed to the insecticide has exhibited adverse respiratory symptoms including acute respiratory distress with cyanosis and tachypnea and bilateral rhonchi and crepitation. Other studies have shown that bromophos exposure may lead to dyspnea, bronchospasm, asphyxia and cyanosis as well.

Bromophos exposure is also associated with muscular fibrillation and fluctuations in blood pressure levels. The toxic chemical is also tied to the onset of serious digestive issues such as abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting as well as diarrhea and incontinence. The hazardous pesticide may even trigger anorexia and  blurred vision as well. According to the open chemistry database Pub Chem, the use of bromophos may also readily contaminate waterways and is highly toxic to aquatic animals.

Body systems affected by bromophos

Bromophos is particularly detrimental to the brain and the central nervous system. Likewise, the toxic insecticide negatively affects the heart and both the respiratory and the digestive tract. The harmful chemical is also known to impact both eye and muscle health.

Items that can contain bromophos

Bromophos is usually added to insecticides and pesticides. The chemical is used as both pre-harvest and post-harvest treatments for various fruits and vegetables such as grape, pear and melon as well as cucumber, lettuce, and cabbage.

How to avoid bromophos

Bromophos exposure may be prevented by avoiding crops that have been extensively sprayed with the harmful pesticide.

Where to learn more

Summary

Bromophos causes reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.

Bromophos triggers restlessness, anxiety, and depression as well as fatigue and even coma.

Bromophos may raise the risk of neuritis, paresis, and paralysis and memory decline.

Bromophos also causes muscular fibrillation, blood pressure fluctuation, anorexia, and blurred vision.

Bromophos is particularly detrimental to the brain and the central nervous system.

Bromophos negatively affects the heart and both the respiratory and the digestive tract.

Bromophos is also known to negatively impact both eye health and muscle strength.

Sources include:

PubChem.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

PesticideInfo.org

ToxNet.NLM.NIH.gov

InChem.org