Neurotoxic Effect of Insecticides on Human Nervous System

Abstract

Prologue- Pesticides is a generic term for a variety of agents that may be classified more specifically on the basis of pattern of use and organism killed such as insects, weeds, fungi, and rodents. A number of pesticides can cause neurotoxicity. It is not surprising that these agents also have neurotoxic effects on large mammals including humans. Despites man’s persistent efforts to develop mechanism of actions in selectivity and specificity of these agents towards certain species while reducing toxicity to other forms of life, all pesticides possess an inherent degree of toxicity to human being. This family of chemicals such as the organophosphates, the carbamates, the pyrethroids, the organochlorines, and other compounds directly target nervous system to show their mechanism of toxicity. Insecticides interfere with chemical neurotransmitter or ion channels in nerve cell, and usually cause reversible neurotoxic effects, that could nevertheless be lethal. The effects of pesticides on the nervous system is as neurotoxins, or may contribute to chronic neurodegenerative disorder, one of the most common notably is Parkinson’s and Alzhemier Disease. This brief review summarizes some of the main neurotoxic insecticides, their effects and mode of action.