A review on effects of dimethoate

Abstract

A set of man-made chemicals that have a tendency to poison insects and mammals are organophosphates. Organophosphates are a broad category of chemicals and are widely used insecticides. Now a days, they have various applications such as in agriculture, home, gardens etc. Dimethoate is an insecticide that falls under the category of organophosphates. Dimethoate is a white crystalline solid with robust odor resembling the form of sand or sugar. It was first produced in 1956 to kill or manage insects such as house fly, termites, etc and various countries use it for farming. We have less knowledge about the levels of dimethoate in the environment as, there are no residues found in soil nor it has been found in drinking water. Insecticides that contain Dimethoate are used on various crops such as cotton, tobacco, olives also on various fruits and vegetables. Rapid and fatal poisoning could be caused if it is inhaled or if it comes in contact with skin. The symptoms include headache, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination and muscle twitching. Individuals with long term exposure to higher levels of Dimethoate are found to suffer from personality changes including- depression, anxiety, irritability etc. These harmful effects could last for months or years in human central nervous system. Developing fetus are also affected due to the inhalation of gaseous Dimethoate by pregnant women. In this review we are going to discuss about the toxicological aspects and properties of Dimethoate and its effects on humans and the future aspects related to this insecticide.