Could you inform me as to how the classification of pesticides is
conducted? That is, is an organochlorine solely an organic pesticide
which contains chlorine atoms? Or, is this procedure based upon the
funtional nature (mode of action) of the compound, rather than it's
chemical structure? Upon my examination of dieldrin I found only that
it was classified as a cyclodiene insecticide, yet it is clearly also a
chlorinated organic compound. Furthermore, could you let me know WHO
it is that conducts this classification procedure (governmental
agency, board of individuls, American Chemical Society, et cetera), or
if the indivdual manufacturers submit their own classifications when
they acquire CAS numbers? Also,
are there any web-based databases that supply this sort of information
(other than the UK/Alan Wood pesticide compendium, which may or may
not be accurate)? Thanks so much! |
Clarification of Question by
salwhite-ga
on
21 Mar 2005 18:57 PST
Really, I don't mean this to be a multi-part question. I only
intended to make infinitely clear the question for which I sought an
answer.
I don't think what I'm looking for should entail more than 3-4
sentences (from someone more succinct than myself, I suppose), I just
wanted to know if anyone out there actually had any idea...
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
21 Mar 2005 19:07 PST
salwhite-ga,
Here's a link to a few definitions of organochlorines:
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2003-43,GGLD:en&q=define%3Aorganochlorines
and another for a set of pesticides known as organophosphates:
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2003-43,GGLD:en&q=define%3Aorganophosphates
Pesticides can be grouped by a variety of classifications. By
function, for instance (insecticides vs herbicides), by specific
target (fungicides), by chemistry, as you've noted, or by the
technology used to create them (e.g. biopesticides).
I don't think there is an official body for these classifications --
instead, the terms are adopted as a matter of convenience.
The pesticides office at the US Environmental Protection Agency is
probably the most authoritative source of information in the US. You
can see their main page here:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/types.htm
-----
Some examples of chemically-related pesticides follow. Other examples
are available in sources such as Recognition and Management of
Pesticide Poisonings.
Organophosphate Pesticides - These pesticides affect the nervous
system by disrupting the enzyme that regulates acetylcholine, a
neurotransmitter. Most organophosphates are insecticides. They were
developed during the early 19th century, but their effects on insects,
which are similar to their effects on humans, were discovered in 1932.
Some are very poisonous (they were used in World War II as nerve
agents). However, they usually are not persistent in the environment.
Carbamate Pesticides affect the nervous system by disupting an enzyme
that regulates acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. The enzyme effects
are usually reversible. There are several subgroups within the
carbamates.
Organochlorine Insecticides were commonly used in the past, but many
have been removed from the market due to their health and
environmental effects and their persistence (e.g. DDT and chlordane).
Pyrethroid Pesticides were developed as a synthetic version of the
naturally occurring pesticide pyrethrin, which is found in
chrysanthemums. They have been modified to increase their stability in
the environment. Some synthetic pyrethroids are toxic to the nervous
system.
-----
Let me know if this is the sort of information you needed, or if there
is anything I can add to make for a complete answer to your question.
Cheers,
pafalafa-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
salwhite-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 10:54 PST
Thank you for the response. Unfortunately, I had already encountered
your leads (most of which, I believe, are more appropriate for a lay
audience). I suppose I am looking for something quite specific in an
answer, but lack the argot to ask the question...
What motivates my query is that many researchers who study the modes
of action and the toxicological endpoints of pesticides use phrases
like, "organochlorines are known to disrupt GABAergic function."
This, then, leads me to ask just WHAT qualifies as an
organochlorine... I find it highly unlikely that all compounds which
satisfy the definition of organochlorine (as google returns) act on
the human nervous system by the exact same means as one another. I
have considered that such researchers may have misspoken, but this is
a very disheartening possibility...
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Clarification of Question by
salwhite-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 11:00 PST
postscript: if all organochlorines DO act this way, then I suppose
we're all up shit's creek -- the reason being that the most popular
artificial sweetener on the market today (sucralose = Splenda) is an
organochlorine... just like those lovely pesticides, which kill
insects (and sicken people) through directed nervous system action.
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