Journal of the Indian Society of Toxicology
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 2

Fatal Organophosphate-pyrethroid Combination Poisoning

  • Author:
  • Phad Laxman Gangadhar*, Rajesh V. Bardale, Sandeep V. Haridas
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Published Online: Sep 17, 2022
  • Page Number: 23 to 26

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Miraj

*Corresponding author: Dr Laxman Gangadhar Phad, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Miraj. Email: laxmanphad87@gmail.com

Online Published on 17 September, 2022.

Abstract

Insecticide poisoning in India is a major public health concern. Due to insects' emerging resistance, farmers use newer insecticides and pre-mixed, fixed-dose insecticides. Examples of pre-mixed, fixed-dose insecticides are ethion 40% -cypermethrin 5% combination; chlorpyrifos 50% - cypermethrin 5% combination, trizopas 35% - deltacypermethrin 1% combination, etc. Such pre-fixed combinations are available and sold in India. We report a case series of fatal poisoning by Chlorpyrifos 50% -cypermethrin 5%, a pre-mixed, fixed-dose combination. As per WHO, chlorpyriphos is a class II insecticide and is considered moderately toxic to humans. The LD50 is 135 mg/kg. Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid class II pesticide with LD 50 of 250mg/kg. The physician should be aware of such pre-mixed combinations and overlapping clinical manifestations produced by these pesticides.

Keywords

Organophosphate, Chlorpyriphos, Cypermethrin, Pyrethroid, Poison, Death