Rapid lethal intoxication caused by the herbicide glyphosate-trimesium (Touchdown).
Two cases of rapid lethal intoxication with the herbicide glyphosate-trimesium (Touchdown) are presented. A 6-year-old boy who accidentally ingested a mouthful of glyphosate-trimesium died within minutes. The same happened to a 34-year-old woman who intentionally ingested approximately 150 ml of glyphosate-trimesium. The post-mortem examination revealed gastric content and oedema of the mucus membranes of the airways, erosion of the mucus membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary oedema, cerebral oedema, 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. We propose that containers with glyphosate-trimesium must be labelled because of the apparent effect of lethal intoxication.
Sorensen
F W
FW
Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Gregersen
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000506:poisoning; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006540:Herbicides / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010614:Pharynx / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D000097797:Glyphosate
D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D000097797:Glyphosate; C404484:N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine trimethylsulfonium salt