Air And Water Pollution Control (AWPC) Exam 1 Practice

Organophosphates are potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase in mammals, which prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses. This causes overstimulation of both the peripheral and central nervous systems, leading to a cholinergic crisis with a range of symptoms from increased secretions and sweating to bronchospasm, bradycardia, seizures, and potentially death if exposure is high and not treated. The toxicity is a real and well-established risk because acetylcholinesterase is essential for terminating nerve signals throughout the body, so even relatively small exposures can cause significant effects. Some organophosphates require metabolic activation to a more potent form, and detoxification by enzymes like paraoxonase can influence the level of risk, but overall the class is known for significant mammalian toxicity. Therefore, the statement that they exhibit significant mammalian toxicity is correct.