ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS EXPOSURE:
Geoffrey is the proprietor of a restaurant in Victoria Square. In an attempt to eradicate a recent cockroach infestation he closes the restaurant for fumigation by an ‘unauthorised’ pest control agent. Geoffrey is advised not to enter the restaurant for 24 hours post fumigation. Geoffrey soon realises he has left the weeks takings in the restaurant safe and enters the restaurant 2 hours after the fumigation process. Ten minutes after entering the restaurant Geoffrey develops the following signs and symptoms: bradycardia, salivation, profuse sweating, watery eyes, blurred vision, wheezing and breathlessness, diarrhea, and skeletal muscle twitching and conculsions.
Question:
a) Identify the mechanism by which high-dose organophosphate’s cause toxicity in humans and briefly discuss how TWO of Geoffrey’s symptoms are linked to the pharmacological properties of organophosphates. (Maximum 150 words)