809 Paraquat dichloride Paraquat dichloride is a constituent of numerous proprietary herbicides. A large majority (93%) of fatalities from paraquat poisoning are cases of intentional self-administration, ie, suicides. In third world countries, paraquat is a major suicide agent. For instance, in Samoa from 1979-2001, 70% of suicides were by Paraquat poisoning. In Southern Trinidad from 1996-1997, 76% of suicides were by paraquat. However, independent bodies have studied paraquat in this use. Jenny Pronczuk de Garbino, stated: no lung or other injury in marijuana users has ever been attributed to paraquat contamination. Also a United States Environmental Protection Agency manual states: … toxic effects caused by this mechanism have been either very rare or nonexistent. Most paraquat that contaminates marijuana is pyrolyzed during smoking to dipyridyl, which is a product of combustion of the leaf material itself (including marijuana) and presents little toxic hazard. Paraquat is the trade name for N,N -dimethyl-4,4 -bipyridinium dichloride, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. Paraquat, a viologen, is quick-acting and non-selective, killing green plant tissue on contact. It is also toxic to human beings when swallowed. Paraquat is used as a quaternary ammonium herbicide; one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. It is quick-acting, non-selective, and kills green plant tissue on contact. It is redistributed within the plant but does not harm mature bark. Being a herbicide, paraquat protects crops by controlling a wide range of annual and certain perennial weeds that reduce crop yield and quality by competing with the crop for water, nutrients, and light. Pure paraquat ingested is highly toxic to mammals and humans potentially leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and there are no specific antidotes. However, fuller's earth or activated charcoal is an effective treatment, if taken in time. Death may occur up to 30 days after ingestion. Diluted paraquat used for spraying is less so, thus the greatest risk of accidental poisoning is during mixing and loading Paraquat for use. 1910-42-5 15938 C12H14Cl2N2 256.053400 Off-white powder (L421). >400°C 700 mg/mL at 20°C Inhalation (T44) ; oral (T44) ; eye contat (T44) ; dermal (T44) The mechanisms of the toxic effects of paraquat are largely the result of a metabolically catalyzed single electron oxidation reduction reaction, resulting in depletion of cellular NADPH and the generation of potentially toxic forms of oxygen such as the superoxide radical (A607). Recent studies have demonstrated paraquat cytotoxicity occurs in the mitochondria and particularly in mitochondrial-rich tissues. The mitochondrial NADH-dependent PQ reductase containing a voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) appears to be largely responsible for paraquat cytotoxicity. When mitochondria are incubated with NADH and paraquat, the superoxide anion is produced, and the mitochondria rupture. Ruptured mitochondria lead to rapid cell death (A3102). Paraquat is poorly absorbed after oral exposure. It is not metabolized but is reduced to an unstable free radical which is then re-oxidized to reform the cation and produce a superoxide anion. It is excreted moslty in the urine,and in small fraction also in the feces (A606, L1008). LD50: 150 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) (L1008) LD50: >480 mg/kg (Dermal, Rabbit) (L1008) 35 mg/kg No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC). Paraquat is used as a quaternary ammonium herbicide; one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. It is also often used in science to catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). (L421). It can cause temporary damage to nails and if swalloed, may cause nose bleeding. Long term exposures to paraquat would most likely cause lung and eye damage. Some suspect a possible link to a greater incidence of Parkinson's disease. Pancreatitis may develop in some cases of acute. Paraquat is caustic to the oral, esophageal, and gastric mucosa (T36, A545, L421). Eye or skin irritation; hypotension may develop after large ingestion; epistaxis and sore throat may develop after inhalation. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are common (T36). In case of oral exposure, administer charcoal as a slurry. Consider after ingestion of a potentially life-threatening amount of poison if it can be performed soon after ingestion. The treatment is symptomatic and supportive. In case of eye exposure, irrigate exposed eyes with copious amounts of room temperature water for at least 15 minutes. In case of dermal exposure, remove contaminated clothing and jewellery. Wash the skin, including hair and nails, vigorously; do repeated soap washings. Discard contaminated clothing. (T36) 2009-06-03T21:56:02Z 2026-04-05T19:07:57Z http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraquat_dichloride C00225 28786 Paraquat 6503 true [Cl-].[Cl-].C[N+]1=CC=C(C=C1)C1=CC=[N+](C)C=C1 C12H14Cl2N2 InChI=1S/C12H14N2.2ClH/c1-13-7-3-11(4-8-13)12-5-9-14(2)10-6-12;;/h3-10H,1-2H3;2*1H/q+2;;/p-2 FIKAKWIAUPDISJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 257.159 256.053403872 Exogenous Solid -4.5 HMDB33121 CHEMBL458019 15146 http://informahealthcare.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/15563657909030112 CHEM000721 DTXSID7024243 NS00081891 1,1'-dimethyl-[4,4'-bipyridine]-1,1'-diium