This process can inactivate toxic chemicals or can create toxic metabolic products. Nonetheless these pesticides can cause acute and chronic neurologic health effects. OCs are frequently persistent in the environment, and often accumulate in fat. Most OCs are known or suspected endocrine disruptors. Examples of currently used OCs include dicofol, endosulfan, methoxychlor, and lindane.
Organophosphates irreversibly bind to, and inhibit, an important enzyme called acetylcholinesterase.
Failure to break down acetylcholine can cause numerous acute and chronic health effects. The characterization of the health effects expected from exposure to a toxicant, estimation of the probability of occurrence of health effects, the doses at which these health effects may occur, and recommendation of an acceptable concentration of the toxicant in air, water, food, or in the workplace. A dose of a pesticide that the U.S. EPA considers safe for regular daily consumption by humans without adverse health effects. The liquid portion of blood with the red and white blood cells removed. Often used for measurement of chemical substances in the body.