Organophosphates II. Neurobehavioural Problems Following Low-Level Exposure: Methodological Considerations for Future Research

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are one of the most widely used insecticides in the world and concern about the effects of OPs on human health has been growing as they are increasingly used throughout the world. The neurotoxic effects of high-level acute poisoning are well established, but the possibility that long-term low-level exposure to OPs in doses below that causing acute toxicity causes ill health is controversial. In 2012 we published a systematic review of the literature regarding the neurotoxicity of long-term low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides in adult populations. In this chapter we summarize and update our previous review, discuss possible reasons for divergent evaluations of the same literature and highlight unanswered questions and methodological considerations that future researchers need to address before firm conclusions can be drawn