Recent research concerning human poisoning:
Title: Poisonings with the herbicides glyphosate and glyphosate-trimesium.
Authors: Mortensen O S; Sorensen F W; Gregersen M; Jensen K H:
Authors affiliation: S Bispebjerg Hospital, arbejds- og miljomedicinsk
klinik
Published in: UGESKRIFT FOR LAEGER, volumn 162, pages 4656-4659, (2000)
Abstract: "Generally the herbicide glyphosate is considered harmless to
humans. Glyphosate-trimesium is labelled harmful (Xn), whereas
glyphosate-isopropylamine carries no warning sign. As cases of serious
poisoning have emerged contacts to the Poison Information Centre have been
reviewed. The persons exposed were mainly smaller children and adults 20 to
59 years of age. Oral exposure was recorded in 47 persons, inhalation
exposure in 24 and topical contact in 42. About one fourth of the exposed
persons were asymptomatic. Most of the symptomatic poisonings demonstrated
complaints from the mouth, the gastrointestinal tract and the airways.
Eleven patients were admitted to hospital. Two died, one of them having
ingested the isopropylamine salt, the other the trimesium salt. Death ensued
quickly in the latter patient. A similar fate was observed in a child--not
included in the present material--who had also ingested the trimesium
compound."
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Title: Cardiogenic shock in a patient with glyphosate-surfactant poisoning.
Authors: Lin C M; Lai C P; Fang T C; Lin C L
Authors affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tzu-Chi Buddhist
General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
Published in: JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, volumn 98, pages
698-700, (1999).
Abstract: "We present a case of glyphosate-induced cardiogenic shock in a
young man. The patient a 26-year-old man, presented with nausea and vomiting
4 hours after attempting suicide by drinking 150 mL of glyphosate
surfactant. Cardiogenic shock with accelerated idio-ventricular rhythm on
electrocardiography developed after admission. Intravenous injection of
epinephrine, atropine, and calcium failed to improve the condition. Over the
next 16 hours, the QRS complex gradually narrowed, sinus rhythm returned,
and the hemodynamic status improved. Echocardiograms revealed diffuse left
ventricular hypokinesis with markedly reduced ejection fraction while the
patient was in shock; normal left ventricular function resumed the next day.
In this case, the glyphosate surfactant poisoning-induced shock may have
been due to transient suppression of the cardiac conduction system and
contractility, rather than intravascular hypovolemia."
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Title: Clinical impact of upper gastrointestinal tract injuries in
glyphosate-surfactant oral intoxication.
Authors: Chang, C.-Y.; Peng, Y.-C.; Hung, D.-Z.; Hu, W.-H.; Yang, D.-Y.;
Lin, T.-J.
Authors affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Taichung Veterans
General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Published in: Human & Experimental Toxicology, volumn 18, pages 475-478,
(1999).
Abstract: "Fifty patients with glyphosate-surfactant oral ingestion were
studied with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopic grading using Zargar's
modified grading system for mucosal corrosive injury. Esophageal injury was
seen in 68% of the patients, gastric injury in 72%, and duodenal injury in
16%. There were no grade 3 injuries. The upper gastrointestinal tract
injuries caused by glyphosate-surfactant were minor in comparison with those
by other strong acids. The WBC count, amt. of glyphosate-surfactant
ingested, length of hospital stay and the occurrence of serious
complications increased markedly in the group which had grade 2 esophageal
injuries. Thus, the severity of the esophageal injuries may be a prognostic
factor for the patient with glyphosate-surfactant ingestion. The UGI
endoscopy may be indicated for grading esophageal injury in patients who
have ingested glyphosate-surfactant in amts. greater than 100 mL. Physicians
should pay more attention to the patients with grade 2 or 3 esophageal
injuries to prevent serious complications and to provide aggressive
supportive care. "
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Title: Rapid lethal intoxication caused by the herbicide
glyphosate-trimesium (Touchdown).
Authors: Sorensen, F. W.; Gregersen, M.
Authors affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus,
Aarhus, Den.
Published in: Human & Experimental Toxicology, volumn 18, pages 735-737,
(1999).
Abstract: "Two cases of rapid lethal intoxication with the herbicide
glyphosate-trimesium (Touchdown) are presented. A 6-yr-old boy who
accidentally ingested a mouthful of glyphosate-trimesium died within
minutes. The same happened to a 34-yr-old woman who intentionally ingested
approx. 150 mL of glyphosate-trimesium. The post-mortem examn. revealed
gastric content and edema of the mucus membranes of the airways, erosion of
the mucus membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary edema, cerebral
edema, and dilated right atrium and ventricle of the heart. The speed of
which death occurs is much more rapid than lethal intoxications with the
herbicide glyphosate (isoprophylamine), also known as 'Roundup'. It is
suggested that the lethal mechanism between the two herbicides may be
different. The component, trimethylsulfonium, of the glyphosate-trimesium
may facilitate the absorption after oral ingestion. This difference can be
crucial in the treatment of human intoxication. The authors propose that
containers with glyphosate-trimesium must be labeled because of the apparent
effect of lethal intoxication. "
Title: Rapid lethal intoxication caused by the herbicide
glyphosate-trimesium (Touchdown). [Erratum to above].
Authors: Sorensen, F. W.; Gregersen,
Authors affiliation: M. Department of Forensic Medicine, University of
Aarhus, Aarhus, Den.
Published in: Human & Experimental Toxicology, volumn 19, page 484, (2000).
Abstract: "In Case 2, the bottle and stomach concns. of glyphosate-trimesium
should have been given in g/mL, rather than g/L.
--
Henry Kuska, retired
http://home.neo.rr.com/kuska/