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The insecticide mevinphos (Phosdrin), used to control apple aphids, accounted for 26 cases of pesticide poisoning in Washington State between June and August of 1993. All victims were male agricultural workers and most were exposed while working with the chemical in apple orchards.
Symptoms were typical of organophosphate poisoning: they included nausea (81 percent), vomiting (62 percent), dizziness (43 percent), visual disturbances (43 percent), muscle weakness (38 percent), abdominal pain (29 percent), headache (24 percent), and sweating (24 percent). Two people had conjunctivitis only.
Like other organophosphates, mevinphos is absorbed through the lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. It is highly toxic, and the EPA has strict requireme…