Formula C8H10NO5PS | Classification Organothiophosphate | |
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Appearance White to tan, crystalline solid or powder | ||
Parathion methyl is an organophosphate pesticide and insecticide, possessing a organothiophosphate group. It is structurally very similar to parathion-ethyl.
Contents
Applications
Parathion methyl is used as an insecticide on crops, including cotton.
Safety
People can be exposed to parathion methyl in the workplace by breathing it in, getting it on their skin, swallowing it, or getting it in their eyes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not set a legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for parathion methyl exposure in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 0.2 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday.
Since it is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, symptoms of exposure to parathion methyl include irritated eyes and skin, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, salivation, feeling weak and tired, headache, runny nose, tightness in the chest, blurry vision, pupil constriction, irregular heartbeat, muscle twitches (fasciculation), and difficulty breathing.
Even though parathion methyl is classified as extremely hazardous, it is not classified as a carcinogen by any global agency.
Classifications and restrictions
Parathion methyl - or methyl parathion as it is also called - has been restricted for many years. It is classified as Extremely Hazardous (Ia) by the World Health Organization and it is classified as Severely Hazardous by the Rotterdam Convention and is not allowed for sale and import in nearly all countries around the world, while a few allows it under subject to specified conditions only.