Can pesticides cause hormesis?

[Alex K Chen]

even low-dose paraquat can increase lifespan in c. elegans

 

can't low-dose organophosphates do the same too? Or is their mechanism just too easily prone to damage neurons in spite of that?

[Todd Allen]

Since no one else has responded, I'll take a stab at this though I'm not a biologist.

 

I was unfamiliar with the longevity research on c. elegans using paraquat and it is kind of fascinating.  I'd point out though that paraquat while somewhat toxic to animals is an herbicide designed to kill plants as opposed to an insecticide which are typically designed to kill by targeting and disrupting (as opposed to stressing) control and regulation systems such as the central nervous system or hormonal systems.  And because we've so contaminated the environment with pesticides of all sorts and they are difficult to monitor, regulating exposure to the tiny amounts that might possibly result in a hormetic response is unlikely.

 

Finally some pesticides are carcinogenic.  I've never hear of anyone talking of carcinogens as hormetic.  As I understand it any exposure to a carcinogen is taking a chance of initiating cancer.

[Alex K Chen]

typically designed to kill by targeting and disrupting (as opposed to stressing) control and regulation systems such as the central nervous system or hormonal systems

 

Really elegantly phrased! Sometimes I wonder if selective targeting/disrupting sometimes has fewer off-target negative effects.. I'd take low-dose nicotine or caffeine over paraquat any day.