What is parathion?
Parathion is a potent organophosphate pesticide. It is a pale yellow-to-brown liquid with an odor like garlic. It is used by farmers as a pesticide on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. Commercial pesticides often contain a hydrocarbon solvent, which itself can cause illness. What immediate health effects can result from parathion exposure? Parathion can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, as well as confusion, blurred vision, sweating, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, convulsions, and death. Symptoms occur when parathion is inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Breathing the solvent used to dissolve the pesticide may cause dizziness, headache, and nausea. Generally, the more serious the exposure, the more severe the symptoms. Can parathion poisoning be treated? For minor exposures (for example, breathing the pesticide solvent), the only treatment needed is fresh air. For serious parathion poisoning, thorough washing of all exposed skin, removal an
