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Abstract

<dm:abstracts xmlns:dm="http://www.elsevier.com/xml/dm/dtd"><ce:abstract xmlns:ce="http://www.elsevier.com/xml/common/dtd" view="all" class="author" id="aep-abstract-id1"><ce:section-title>Publisher Summary</ce:section-title><ce:abstract-sec view="all" id="aep-abstract-sec-id1"><ce:simple-para id="fsabs044" view="all">This chapter reviews chemistry of organophosphorus (OP) insecticides for toxicologist and others who desire a basic knowledge of this important class of toxicants. OP chemistry apparently began with the esterification of alcohols to phosphoric acid. OP insecticides may be considered to be derivatives of phosphoric acid or phosphonic acid in which all H atoms are replaced by organic moieties. OP insecticides; when kept cool, dark, and anhydrous; are usually quite stable. However, exposure to heat, light (especially ultraviolet), and/or water, may lead to chemical alterations. The three primary reactions involving the phosphorus atom and those immediately surrounding it are hydrolysis, oxidation, and rearrangement. The class of organophosphorus insecticides contains a diverse array of structures, all united by the presence of a pentavalent phosphorus atom with three singly bonded constituents and a coordinate covalent bond to either sulfur or oxygen.</ce:simple-para></ce:abstract-sec></ce:abstract></dm:abstracts>