Decontamination agents for chemical neutralization of organo-phosphorous poisonous compounds: Literature Review

Organophosphorus compounds (OPC) are highly toxic substances that are used as pesticides, active pharmacological ingredients, components of chemical weapons, etc. Many of them are neurotoxic agents, possible carcinogens, have acute or chronic toxic effects, suppress immunity, cause disorders of the endocrine, central and peripheral nervous systems. These compounds are inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, a key enzyme for the regulation of central and peripheral nervous systems. The review considers mostly chemical and some physical approaches to the development of OPC decontamination methods, summarizes the preexisting and new strategies of individual decontamination of OPC. Hydrogen peroxide-based systems have been shown to be effective decontaminants for OPC, mild in nature and environmentally safe. Introduction of activators into the system tenfold increases the reactivity of hydrogen peroxide due to the formation of active peroxoanions. It has been shown that modified aluminosilicates accelerate the process of decomposition of OPC, and the relative instability of peroxoanions requires the search for alternative ways to optimize decontamination systems.