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Scenario of organophosphate pollution and toxicity in India: A review

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Abstract

The present study on organophosphate deals with the reports on pollution and toxicity cases throughout India. The use of pesticides was introduced in India during the 1960s which are now being used on a large scale and represents the common feature of Indian agriculture. Use of organophosphates as a pesticide came as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons due to their easy degradability. Although these xenobiotics degrade under natural condition, their residues have been detected in soil, sediments, and water due to their non-regulated usage practice. The over-reliance on pesticides has not only threatened our environment but contaminations of organophosphate residues have been also detected in certain agricultural products like tea, sugars, vegetables, and fruits throughout India. This paper highlights many of the cases where different organophosphates have been detected exceeding their respective MRL values. Some organophosphates detected are so hazardous that even WHO has listed them in class 1a and class 1b hazardous group. Presence of their residues in blood, milk, honey, and tissues of human and animals revealed their excessive use and bioaccumulating capabilities. Their intentional or unintentional uptake is causing thousands of deaths and severity each year. Most of the toxicity cases presented here are due to their uptake during a suicidal attempt. This shows how easily these harmful substances are available in the market.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, Pin 305817, India

    Shardendu Kumar & Garima Kaushik

  2. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, CP66451, Mexico

    Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu

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  1. Shardendu Kumar
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  2. Garima Kaushik
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Correspondence to Garima Kaushik.

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Kumar, S., Kaushik, G. & Villarreal-Chiu, J.F. Scenario of organophosphate pollution and toxicity in India: A review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 9480–9491 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6294-0

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