Can exposure to organophosphates make people sick?
Yes. Symptoms of sudden poisoning by organophosphates start during or after exposure, depending on how the poison is contacted. Symptoms start fastest after organophosphates are breathed, and next by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or getting them on your skin. Some symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, salivation, watery eyes, and small pupils. Severe symptoms are seizures, slow pulse, difficulty breathing, and coma. Long after exposure, people also can develop nervous system problems such as muscle weakness and numbness and tingling of the hands and feet (neuropathy). Long-term exposure to organophosphates can cause confusion, anxiety, loss of memory, loss of appetite, disorientation, depression, and personality changes. Other symptoms such as weakness, headache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting also may occur.
