Chlorpyrifos Pesticide Exposure May Promote Cardiovascular Injury: Study

Findings warn of toxicity and inflammation similar to that seen from chlorpyrifos’s effects on the nervous system.

Agricultural workers regularly exposed to chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate pesticides may face an increased risk of heart inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis, which researchers warn could contribute to the development of heart failure.

According to findings published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology on August 23, chronic exposure to low levels of chlorpyrifos (CPF) and another organophosphate pesticide, dimethoate (DM), was linked to a range of cardiovascular risks.

Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide marketed since the 1960s under brand names including Dursban, Lorsban, Cobalt, NuFos, Bolton and several others. It was widely used in agricultural, residential and commercial settings, as well as during the Gulf War to control insects around military camps and facilities.

Farmers, agricultural workers and pesticide applicators were often exposed to chlorpyrifos while mixing, loading or spraying the chemical on crops. Nearby residents and other individuals may also be exposed through pesticide drift or residues left behind following agricultural applications.

Chlorpyrifos Ban Overturned

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibited chlorpyrifos from being used on food crops amid concerns about the pesticide’s toxicity and potential neurological effects. However, a federal appeals court later overturned the ban, allowing certain agricultural uses to return.

The renewed availability of chlorpyrifos has coincided with continued research examining the long-term health effects of repeated exposure. Studies have linked the pesticide to biological changes involving oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and damage to dopamine-producing brain cells, and recent research found that long-term residential exposure was associated with more than twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

In recent months, chlorpyrifos Parkinson’s disease lawsuits have been filed nationwide, alleging manufacturers failed to adequately warn agricultural workers, pesticide applicators and others that repeated exposure may increase the risk of neurological damage and Parkinson’s disease.

Chlorpyrifos Cardiovascular Concerns

For the study, Indian researchers looked for the effects of CPF and DM on the cardiovascular system through in vitro and in vivo studies on female Wistar rats. Subjects were exposed to individual concentrations of CPF and DM as well as combinations of the two. Outcomes after a month were compared to control rats who had no exposures at all.

Led by Jasmeena Jan, the team linked both pesticides to inflammation of the heart and vascular system, endothelial barrier dysfunction and oxidative stress. The researchers were able to identify a number of mechanistic chemical reactions in the rat subjects that they believe would work similarly in the human body.

Additionally, the research team indicated it was able to identify certain chemical signals that activated, leading to the inflammation. It noted these “biomarkers” could help quickly identify chlorpyrifos as the cause for certain conditions.

“Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CPF and DM exposure induces cardiovascular injury mediated through oxidative stress, inflammasome activation and nitric oxide dysregulation.”

— Jasmeena Jan, Organophosphate Pesticides Promote Cardiovascular Toxicity via NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Endothelial Dysfunction: Integrated In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence

Researchers concluded that the data strengthens a causal link between chlorpyrifos and heart disease “but also underscore the need for stricter regulatory control, improved biomonitoring of exposed populations.”

Chlorpyrifos Lawsuits

While this latest study focused on chlorpyrifos cardiovascular risks, it joins a considerable amount of existing evidence of the pesticide’s toxic effects on the nervous system.

Chlorpyrifos attorneys are currently reviewing possible product liability lawsuits for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after long-term exposure to the pesticide through:

• Personally mixing or applying chlorpyrifos
• Working on a farm during or after chlorpyrifos applications
• Living on a farm where chlorpyrifos was regularly used
• Using chlorpyrifos as a residential insecticide
• Working near chlorpyrifos spraying or pesticide drift
• Occupational exposure through pest control, construction, golf course maintenance or military service during the Gulf Wars

Free consultations and claim evaluations are available for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Attorneys will review the treatment history and products involved, as well as location, duration and circumstances of exposure to determine whether the individual qualifies to pursue a claim.

All chlorpyrifos lawsuits are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees or expenses, and attorneys are paid only if they successfully obtain compensation.

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