1Department of Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University, Karad, 415 110, Maharashtra, India.
2Department of FMT, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University, Karad, 415 110, Maharashtra, India.
3Department of Biochemistry, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University, Karad, 415 110, Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding author: Dr Swapnil Arsekar, (Senior Resident, Department of Medicine) Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University, Karad, 415 110, Maharashtra, India, Cell No.: +919420689079.
Paraquat (1,1 - dimethyl -4, 4’ bipyridylium chloride), a para-substituted quaternary bipyridyl cation, is the most important bipyridyl herbicide in the group of five: Paraquat, diquat, chlormequat, difenzoquat and morfamquat. Paraquat, known also as methyl viologen, was discovered to posses nonselective herbicidal properties in the early 1960s1,2.
A few years after its introduction it became clear that Paraquat was a serious hazard to humans, not with its proper use, but as a result of ingestion of the concentrate. In early reports3–5, accidental poisoning from drinking the dark brown concentrate, which resemble a cola drink after it has been decanted into soft drink bottles, was common. Recently, however, intentional suicidal deaths predominate6–8.
Paraquat poisoning, pulmonary edema, urine dithionite test
