That's where they belong - outside, in nature. When these and other bugs invade our homes or infest our pets, we consider them pests. Pests such as cutworms, aphids and maggots damage food crops. Other bugs, such as mosquitoes and certain flies, can transmit disease to livestock and humans. To protect us, our pets and our food supply from these pests, researchers have developed many pesticides to kill them.
Some pesticides belong to a group of chemicals called organophosphates .
Specifically, organophosphates target the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system. Organophosphates inhibit an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase which breaks down acetylcholine into acetate and choline. Therefore, in the presence of organophosphate pesticides, acetylcholine increases because it is not being broken down. Sometimes the solution to a problem creates another problem. In the case of pesticides, some chemicals that kill insects pose a danger to the health of humans.