The most common mechanism of action is inhibition of the enzyme cholinesterase, which is essential for transmission of nerve impulses. Most pesticides in this category are organophosphorus or carbamate compounds. Most of these pesticides are insecticides with a similar mechanism of action in both insects and humans. Exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides has been linked to impaired neurological development in the fetus and in infants, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Parkinson's disease. This list is relatively static, since few newly registered pesticides are cholinesterase inhibitors.
Some pesticides cause neurotoxicity that is unrelated to cholinesterase inhibition.
Exposure to neurotoxic pesticides has been linked to impaired cognitive development in children, behavioral abnormalities, and Parkinsons disease. Our Privacy Policy .