Editing Insecticide (section)

=== Organophosphates ===
[[Organophosphate]]s are another large class of contact insecticides.  These also target the insect's nervous system. Organophosphates interfere with the [[enzyme]]s [[acetylcholinesterase]] and other [[cholinesterase]]s, causing an increase in synaptic [[acetylcholine]] and overstimulation of the [[parasympathetic nervous system]],<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Colović MB, Krstić DZ, Lazarević-Pašti TD, Bondžić AM, Vasić VM |date=May 2013 |title=Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: pharmacology and toxicology |journal=Current Neuropharmacology |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=315–35 |doi=10.2174/1570159X11311030006 |pmc=3648782 |pmid=24179466}}</ref> killing or disabling the insect. Organophosphate insecticides and [[chemical warfare]] [[Nerve agent|nerve agents]] (such as [[sarin]], [[Tabun (nerve agent)|tabun]], [[soman]], and [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]]) have the same mechanism of action. Organophosphates have a cumulative toxic effect to wildlife, so multiple exposures to the chemicals amplifies the toxicity.<ref name="palmerw"/> In the US, organophosphate use declined with the rise of substitutes.<ref name=s730>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1126/science.341.6147.730 | title = Infographic: Pesticide Planet | journal = Science | volume = 341 | issue = 6147 | pages = 730–731 | year = 2013 | pmid =  23950524| bibcode = 2013Sci...341..730. }}</ref> Many of these insecticides, first developed in the mid 20th century, are very poisonous.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Aug 1996 |title=Toxicological Profile for Toxaphene |url=https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/toxaphene_508.pdf |access-date=Dec 9, 2018 |website=ntp.niehs.nih.gov |publisher=[[Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry|ATSDR]] |pages=5}}</ref> Many [[Organophosphate|organophosphates]] do not persist in the environment.