Acephate (AT) is an organophosphate (OP) insecticide. Due to their reputation for low environmental persistence, OP pesticides are often used indiscriminately resulting in detrimental exposure to humans and other nontarget species. Although the toxicity of OP compounds is primarily through blockade of neural transmission via inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, studies have revealed histopathological alterations in the renal proximal tubules, suggesting a role for additional mechanisms in renal toxicity. It is our hypothesis that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) may play a role in OP-induced renal tubular injury for the following reasoning. Renal tubular cells concentrate many nephrotoxic chemicals including OPs, and renal injury from many of these compounds has been shown to arise from excessive ROS production. Furthermore, it has been established that many phosphorothiolates, which are sulfur-containing OPs and constitute the class of OP compounds to which AT belongs, are S-oxidized to highly reactive intermediates within cells and tissues. Because of these considerations, we examined whether ROS play a role in OP-induced renal tubular epithelial cell (LLC-PK1) toxicity using AT as a prototype. AT produced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in cell damage in LLC-PK1 cells, measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, % of total) leakage. The cytotoxicity (LDH) induced by 2500 ppm of AT over 72 h was significantly suppressed by antioxidants 2-methylaminochroman (2-MAC) and desferrioxamine (DFO). H2O2 levels were significantly elevated following exposure of LLC-PK1 cells to 2500 ppm of AT. Malondialdehyde (MDA) formation was also significantly increased in AT-exposed cells compared to the control cells, indicating the occurrence of enhanced lipid peroxidation. 2-MAC and DFO, in addition to providing cytoprotection, inhibited AT-induced MDA generation in a significant and concentration-dependent manner. Results from this study, which is the first to explore the toxic effects of AT on renal tubular cells, demonstrate that toxic action of AT on kidney cells is partly through an ROS-mediated mechanism. Based on these direct in vitro findings, we further hypothesize that oxidant stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of AT-induced acute tubular necrosis and renal dysfunction observed in cases of AT overdoses.