Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are a public health concern due to their worldwide use and documented human exposures. Phosphorothioate OPs are metabolized by cytochrome P450s (P450s) through either a dearylation reaction to form an inactive metabolite, or through a desulfuration reaction to form an active oxon metabolite, which is a potent cholinesterase inhibitor. This study investigated th...

The phosphotriesterase produced from the opd cistron of Pseudomonas diminuta was purified 1500-fold to homogeneity using a combination of gel filtration, ion exchange, hydrophobic, and dye matrix chromatographic steps. This is the first organophosphate triesterase or organophosphofluoridate hydrolyzing enzyme to be purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is a monomeric, spherical protein having a m...

Brazil has experienced a rise in the use of agrochemicals recent years, representing potential threat to nearby ecosystems. The Volta Grande Reservoir (Minas Gerais/São Paulo, Brazil) about 87% its area surrounded by agricultural systems, and many compounds used agriculture end up being carried into water bodies. Given ecological risk, our purpose was assess pesticides reservoir. We collected s...

We measured two diethyl organophosphorus (OP) pesticides--chlorpyrifos and parathion--in residences, and their metabolic by-products, in the urine of children 6 years old or younger in a central Washington State agricultural community. Exposures to two dimethyl OP pesticides (azinphos-methyl and phosmet) in this same population have been reported previously. We categorized children by parental ...