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Article: Molecule of the Month: From Nazis to gnats via the Gulf war
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- November 18, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Gulf war syndrome, sheep-dipper's flu, and even BSE have
recently been linked to organophosphate (OP) insecticides. Their
name, somehow redolent of fertilisers with dire warnings on the
packet, give rise to suspicion almost immediately.
Yet is it justified? Organophosphates occur naturally, and there
are OPs in our body - including that essential of life, DNA, the
high-energy molecule ATP, and the natural emulsifier, lecithin. All
are molecules with phosphate groups to which organic groups are
attached. However, natural OPs generally have one or two organic
groups, whereas insecticide OPs have three.
Campaigners against OPs point out that they are related to nerve
gases like sarin, although ...