So what happens to the body when the normal function of acetylcholinesterase is inhibited?  Acetylcholine continues to send "go" messages to various part of the body.  The symptoms produced by leaving the green light on depends on how much pesticide was taken into the body (the dose).

The following charts describe the symptoms that will occur based on the dose of the pesticide.  Note that the first chart's symptoms are for pesticides that inhibit the function of acetylcholinesterase, such as organophosphates and carbamates.  Other types of pesticides will produce different symptoms as shown in charts two and three.

(Victims of high dose exposure suffer from low dose symptoms as well)

 

Effects of Exposure to Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides (listed in order from low dose to moderate to high dose)

Brain - Headache & dizziness, coma Eyes - Excess tears, constricted pupils (won't dilate) Mouth - Increased salivation, slurred speech Trachea - Constriction, increased mucus Muscles - Tremors, clumsiness, convulsions Heart - Decreased heart rate Respiration - Difficulty breathing, bluish skin tint Bladder - No bladder control Digestive organs - Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea, no control over bowel movements *  Death occurs because of respiratory failure when the dose is too high.

NOTE: "nerve gas" is a weapon of mass destruction that is chemically like organophosphate pesticides, only much more potent. More on these poisons can be found in the Hazards section of Organ Systems.

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