Explain the mechanism by which organophosphate poisoning occurs?

Answer 1

I don't know how detailed an answer you want, but here's the overview:

Organophosphates irreversibly bind to the enzyme acetycholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase is responsible for breaking down acetylcholine in the body. Acetylcholine is part of the mechanism that causes muscle contractions. At normal bodily levels, this allows us to move, breathe, and digest food. However, if the enzyme that breaks it down (acetylcholinesterase) is chemically bound to something else (organophosphates) then acetylcholine builds up in the body. This can cause muscle spasms, nausea (if it affects the gastrointestinal tract), seizures, difficulty breathing (if it affects the muscles that control expansion and contraction of the lungs), among other things. If exposure levels are high enough, organophosphate poisoning will cause death. I know that some treatments for organophosphate poisoning exist, but I do not know what they are, or how effective they are.

The body will continue to produce acetylcholinesterase, but if there are still unbound organophosphate molecules, they will take up this amount of enzyme as well, thus continuing the toxic effects even after exposure has been stopped.

I hope this answered your question.