Table 2.

Impact of differential toxic properties of OP pesticides and nerve agents on oxime therapy

OP subclass	OP	Primary route of exposure	Onset of toxic signs	Agent persistence	Oxime efficacy (AChE reactivation)a	Duration of (oxime) therapy
Nerve agents	Sarin	Inhalation	Rapid (min)	Low	Rapid	Initial emergency administration
	Tabun	Inhalation	Rapid (min)	Low	Slow, partial
	Soman	Inhalation	Rapid (min)	Low	Absent (aging)
	VX	Percutaneous	Delayed (h)	High	Rapid	Prolonged (days)
Pesticides	Diazinon (parathion)	Oral (suicide)	Rapid (min)	Moderate to high	Rapid	Prolonged (days) in case of high OP body load
	Malathion, dimethoate	Oral (suicide)	Delayed (h)	Moderate to high	Rapid, may be absent due to rapid aging	Prolonged (days) in case of high OP body load and incomplete aging
	Profenofos	Oral (suicide)	Delayed (h)	Unknown	Absent (aging)	Initial emergency administration

^aExtent of net AChE reactivation will strongly depend on the incorporated OP dose