Organophosphates Are Unavoidable
What you can do to protect yourself from these harmful toxins
I find the topic of organophosphates (OP) interesting since these pesticides are ubiquitous in our modern-day environment, in everything from medications, to roach and ant killer for personal home use to the chemicals sprayed on crops such as apples, celery, peppers, peaches, strawberries and numerous other crops (Robb & Baker, 2020). While most think that OP’s can cause acute and chronic nerve damage only in those with heavy exposure, such as farmers, the researcher proves that even at “safe” levels, the damage occurs (Robinson, 2021).
OP’s, of which glyphosate is a common one you are familiar with, have been detected in our soil air, surface water, groundwater as well as in food (WHO, 2017). Thus, it is essential to do what you can to prevent toxic exposure and make sure your body is functioning at an optimal level to clear these toxins from your body. The bottom line is that we cannot avoid them 100%, but you can take care of your body so that these toxins are not burdensome.
Pesticides, Herbicides, Mental Health and Dementia: Is There a Connection?
Robb and Baker (2020) state over 300,000 deaths worldwide per year are attributed to OP exposure. It can be absorbed via the skin, breathing, and the GI tract. Once it is in the body, the OP molecule binds to an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecule in the red blood cells, therefore, making the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Ach) inactive (Robb & Baker, 2020).
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into acetic acid and choline (Marieb & Hoehn, 2019, p 424). Therefore, if AChE is inhibited, this process cannot occur.
Both caffeine and pesticides can block acetylcholinesterase enzyme; however, there are differences. According to Colovic et al. (2013), caffeine is a reversible AChE inhibitor, and organophosphates are irreversible inhibitors.
Caffeine has a mild stimulatory effect because it is not a potent inhibitor of AChE; therefore, it is not toxic to the body even at a higher dose (Pohanka & Dobes, 2013). AChE is not significantly inhibited when you drink your morning cup of coffee (Pohanka & Dobes, 2013). However, Pohanke & Dobes (2013) state that coffee combined with energy drinks can reach a high concentration in which AChE is inhibited but still not at the level of chronic pesticide exposure. Thus, you can continue to drink your coffee (preferably organic, however, since coffee crops are heavily sprayed with herbicides and pesticides).
Since Organophosphates bond with acetylcholinesterase as an irreversible inhibitor (Denniston, 2017, p. 687), the acetylcholinesterase is no longer able to break down acetylcholine; therefore, the muscle spasms continue. This will cause too much acetylcholine, leading to muscular weakness, paralysis, diarrhea, and blurry vision. (Adeyinka & Kondamudi, 2020) and other neurotoxic effects from chronic exposure (Trang & Khandhar, 2020).
Therefore, caffeine is a reversible mild AChE inhibitor, and organophosphates are an irreversible toxic inhibitor of AChE. Thus, from my perspective, anyone with Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, should be evaluated for toxic burden.
Terry (2012) suggests that OP’s may impact health not only by inhibiting AChE but may alter other enzymes and proteins as well, such as transferrin, papain, and ATP Synthase. Inhibition of these and other enzymes and proteins can cause long term complications such as memory and attention issues that can manifest as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) (Terry, 2012). Terry (2012) states that there is evidence suggesting that chronic OP exposure is also associated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Glyphosate
A recent study, a first of its kind, described how glyphosate and Roundup weed killer impact the gut microbiome in a rat study. It was found that glyphosate and roundup destroy the microbiome using the same method used in weeds-it blocks the shikimate biochemical pathway (Mesnage et a., 2021; Robinson, 2021). This may seem strange as to how this could impact humans since we do not have the shikimate pathway. But some of our bacterial strains do have this pathway! Thus, it was found that even in low doses, glyphosate is impacting the gut. This can have downstream effects on your entire body; thus, why I cannot stress enough the importance of supporting gut health and microbiome diversity.
Currently, Bayer continues to do what it can to keep you in the dark about glyphosate. They have asked a federal judge two times to drop a lawsuit resulting from Bayer’s obligation to add a cancer warning label to its glyphosate-containing products. Thus, think twice before you pick up weed killer this spring.
Chlorpyrifos, an On-going Battle in the United States: Its Politics
Chlorpyrifos, an OP insecticide, is used to control pests on soybeans, fruit and nut trees, Brussel sprouts, cranberries, broccoli, cauliflower, and other crops (EPA, n.d.). It is also sprayed onto golf courses, turf, wood utility, and fence poles (EPA, n.d.). In 2019 the European Nation stated it would ban chlorpyrifos on food crops starting in 2020. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said there is no safe insecticide exposure level. The EPA planned to ban chlorpyrifos in 2017, but according to Formuzis (2019), Dow retaliated with a campaign targeted to alter that decision. On the positive side, California has banned chlorpyrifos, yet we need more states to follow suit since this damaging chemical persists in the United States. Formuzis (2019) cites data from 2016, stating that “an estimated 5 million pounds of the weedkiller were sprayed on U.S. cropland”.
The California ban was set to end on Feb 6, 2020. Hawaii has also banned chlorpyrifos, but it will not affect 2022. New York is also scheduled to enforce the ban starting in December 2021, and other states have bills in the works to take chlorpyrifos off the market. Thus, progress is being made!
The Impact on Children and Our Future Generations
According to a NY Times article (Friedman, 2020), the EPA stated that “despite several years of study, the science of addressing neurodevelopmental effects remains unresolved” and excluded studies that drew a relationship between chlorpyrifos and developmental disorders in toddlers.
These chemicals have been shown to impact a child’s health outcome and impact the reproductive, endocrine, immune, and respiratory systems (Liu & Schelar, 2014). Additionally, OP links to autism and ADHD (Liu & Schelar, 2014). Liu and Schelar (2014) recommend that pregnant women are discouraged from using OP’s and encourage organic diet for children if affordable.
I wonder how often this information is provided in allopathic OB/GYN and pediatric doctor offices. Also, many people cannot afford an organic diet, and if they are incorporating whole foods into the diet, they are also adding to their toxic load.
OP’s and Covid
What would OP have to do with this new virus? Beyond Pesticides (2021) states that unintentional OP exposure can rupture the antiviral defense against SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, respiratory ailments may be fueled by OP compounds. Because of this virus, the demand for these chemicals including disinfectants and sanitizers has risen. Chronic exposure to these chemicals can weaken the body’s immune response to illness thus making you more vulnerable. Thus, as you can see why it is important to reduce your toxic load. What you are exposed to does matter in the long run.
A Few Things to Ponder
These chemicals do not break down in the environment.
In 2016, US farmers used 322 million pounds of pesticides which are banned in the EU.
The EU has banned or restricted 13,000 chemicals. The US has banned or restricted 11.
(Alliance for natural health, 2021).
What to Do With the Toxic Burden We All Face
No matter how clean your diet is in the 21st century, there is no way to avoid all the chemicals that are now on our food, in our water, air, and so forth. Even organic foods will have traces of pesticides and herbicides.
I have included some simple steps you can take to support your body from toxic overload.
Sweat! Your skin is your largest detox organ, and you can eliminate many toxins via sweating. Exercise and use an infrared sauna are wonderful options. An infrared sauna will penetrate and get deeper into the skin to purge toxins instead of a typical sauna. Sears et al. (2012) state that sweating deserves to be considered for toxic element removal. Yet, if you search for articles such as from the NY Times, others will state that sweating does not remove toxins and are removed via the liver. You will need to decide regarding the benefits of sweating.
Consume bitter foods. We have gotten so far away from eating bitter foods. They are important because the bitter taste stimulates bile production, can improve fat metabolism, and supports the detox process via the liver and the kidneys (Shade, 2017). We have become so conditioned to consuming everything that tastes sweet or salty. Thus, if you cannot tolerate bitter foods such as dark leafy greens, you can take bitters in a liquid solution. Swish it in your mouth before you swallow. Dandelion greens and gentian are two well-known bitter plants (Shade, 2017). You can also incorporate burdock, goldenrod, milk thistle, juniper, and clove (Shade, 2017).
Eat fiber-rich foods. Most people do not meet their fiber needs in the united states (25 g. daily for adult females, 38 grams daily for adult males). Fiber binds to toxins to expel them from the body via your stool. Fiber is also important for microbiome health, assisting with detoxifying several compounds. Thus, a keto diet low in fiber is probably not the preferable long term best diet to stay on.
Consume foods rich in glutathione precursors. Glutathione is known as your master antioxidant that your body produces (Hyman, 2010). Your natural production also declines with a poor diet, pollution and toxin exposure, medications, stress, trauma, aging, and infections (Hyman, 2010). It can be found in high concentrations in the liver, where it will bind to toxins, leaves them inactive, and helps eliminate them from the body. Consume grass-fed why protein powder, sulfur-rich foods such as garlic, onions, broccoli, and cabbage, exercise (Hyman, 2010). Others may need additional support via supplementation.
Take vitamin C since it is an antioxidant that aids in detoxification by recycling glutathione and vitamin E. Studies show that glutathione and vitamin C work together as an antioxidant couple (Meister, 1994).
Stay hydrated. This is easier said than done and most of the population is walking around slightly dehydrated. The downside is water also contains many contaminants and chemicals, and OP’s are lurking in your water. I have no affiliation with but suggest the Berkey water filtration system. I think if one can afford it, everyone should have one. We keep one in our bathroom and one in the kitchen. (www.berkeyfilters.com)
Choose what to buy organic: It is not always available nor affordable, but if you can follow the EWG updates on the clean 13 and dirty dozen list (www.ewg.org), that is a great place to start. Also, consider what you consume a lot of. If you buy organic apples but rarely eat them but consume many berries, pick the food that you consume a lot of and splurge on that specific item in its organic form. I realize not everyone can do this, so focus on what you can do!
Bottom Line
It isn’t straightforward. Even if one were to consume a 100% organic diet, they would not eliminate OPs from the diet by 100%. They are ubiquitous and unavoidable. From my perspective, we need to do what we can to reduce the burden of these chemicals and ensure that our bodily systems are functioning properly to remove them from our bodies.
References
Adeyinka, A., & Kondamudi, NP. (n.d.). Cholinergic Crisis. Retrieved November 21, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494040/
Alliance for natural health. (2021, Feb. 4). Chemical Madness. Retrieved from https://anh-usa.org/chemical-exposure-link-to-covid/
Beyond Pesticides. (2021, Feb. 9). This widely used pesticide may increase your risk of covid. Retrieved from https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/pesticide-may-increase-risk-covid/
Colović, M. B., Krstić, D. Z., Lazarević-Pašti, T. D., Bondžić, A. M., & Vasić, V. M. (2013). Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: pharmacology and toxicology. Current Neuropharmacology, 11(3), 315–335. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X11311030006
Denniston, K. J., Topping, J. J., Caret, R. L., & Quirk Dorr, D. R. (2017). Chapter 19: Enzymes. In General, Organic, and Biochemistry, (9th ed.), New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Foruzis, A. (2019, December 6). EWG: Trump, EPA kowtows to Chemical Ag Industry. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/release/us-ignores-risks-kids-eu-bans-damaging-pestiscideLinks to an external site.
Friedman, L. (2020, Sep., 23). E.P.A. rejects its own findings that a pesticide harms children’s brain. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/climate/epa-pesticide-chlorpyrifos-children.htmlLinks to an external site.
Hyman, M. (2010, May 12). What is glutathione, and how do I get more of it?. Retrieved from https://dyhyman.com/blog/2010/05/12/what-is-glutathione-and-how-do-i-get-more-of-it/
Liu, J., & Schelar, E. (2012). Pesticide exposure and child neurodevelopment: summary and implications. Workplace health & safety, 60(5), 235–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/216507991206000507
The United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Chlorpyrifos. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/chlorpyrifosLinks to an external site.
Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2019). Chapter 11 Fundamentals of the nervous system and nervous tissue. In Human Anatomy & Physiology, (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Meister A. (1994) The Antioxidant Effects of Glutathione and Ascorbic Acid. In: Pasquier C., Olivier R.Y., Auclair C., Packer L. (eds) Oxidative Stress, Cell Activation, and Viral Infections. Molecular and Cell Biology Updates. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7424-3_11
Mesnage, R., Teixeira, M., Mandrioli, D. Falcioni, Ducarmon, QR., Zwittink, RD., Mazzacuva, f., Caldwell, A., Halket, J., Amiel, C., Panoff, J., Belpoggi, F., Antoniou, MN. (2021, Jan.). Use of Shotgun Metagenomics and Metabolomics to Evaluate the Impact of Glyphosate or Roundup MON 52276 on the Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolome of Sprague-Dawley Rats. Environmental Health Perspectives 129(1), Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6990
Pohanka, M., & Dobes, P. (2013). Caffeine Inhibits Acetylcholinesterase, But Not Butyrylcholinesterase. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14(5), 9873-9882. doi:10.3390/ijms14059873
Robb, E. L., & Baker, M. B. (2020). Organophosphate Toxicity. StatPearls (). StatPearls Publishing.
Robinson, C. (2021, Jan. 1). Roundup weedkiller disrupts gut microbiome even at ‘safe levels,’ a new study says. Retrieved from https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/roundup-weedkiller-disrupts-gut-microbiome-new-study/
Sears, M. E., Kerr, K. J., & Bray, R. I. (2012). Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review. Journal of environmental and public health, 2012, 184745. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/184745
Shade, C. (2017, May 5). Bringing back bitters: Transforming an old medicine into a new and improved nutraceutical. Retrieved from https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/blog/bringing-back-bitters-transforming-old-medicine-new-and-improved-nutraceutical
Trang, A., & Khandhar, P. (2020, July 10). Physiology, Acetylcholinesterase. Retrieved November 21, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30969557
Terry A. V., Jr (2012). Functional consequences of repeated organophosphate exposure: potential non-cholinergic mechanisms. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 134(3), 355–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.03.001Links to an external site.
World Health Organization. (2017). Some organophosphate insecticides and herbicides. Vol 112. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436774/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK436774.pdf
