Richard Wiles, Kert Davies, and Christopher Campbell

Organophosphate insecticides (OPs) kill insects by interfering with their neurological system. In the following viewpoint, Richard Wiles, Kert Davies, and Christopher Campbell argue that the chemicals in some of the most commonly used organophosphate insecticides are also toxic to humans. The authors maintain that the residue left on food from OPs poses a health hazard for humans, especially for children, who, because of their small size, are highly susceptible to adverse effects of these chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency must protect children’s health by banning the use of the most dangerous insecticides, the authors assert.Wiles, Davies, and Campbell are the coauthors of “Overexposed: Organophosphate Insecticides in Children’s Food,” published by the Environmental Working Group, an environmental research organization in Washington, D.C.

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