Where It Comes From
Made for pesticide manufacturing; found at chemical plants, storage sites, and during transport [3].
How You Are Exposed
Mostly at work via skin contact or inhaling vapors/aerosols; the public is mainly affected only after industrial spills or improper disposal [2][3].
Why It Matters
Can cause headache, nausea, sweating, drooling, weakness, and in severe cases breathing trouble or seizures; it is also corrosive to skin/eyes and very toxic to aquatic life [1][2][4].
Who Is at Risk
Workers who make, package, or transport it; maintenance and cleanup crews; emergency responders to spills [2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
At work, use closed systems, ventilation, chemical-resistant gloves/clothing, and eye/face protection; get cholinesterase monitoring when handling organophosphates; wash up and avoid take-home contamination; in communities, follow spill advisories and avoid affected water/soil [1][2].
References
- [1]U.S. EPA. About Organophosphate Insecticides. https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/about-organophosphate-insecticides
- [2]U.S. EPA. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings (Organophosphates). https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/recognition-and-management-pesticide-poisonings
- [3]NIH PubChem. Dimethyl chlorothiophosphate (CAS 2524-03-0). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Dimethyl-chlorothiophosphate
- [4]ECHA. Substance Information: O,O-dimethyl chlorothiophosphate (CAS 2524-03-0). https://echa.europa.eu/