Paraquat Poisoning (Noun)
Meaning
Poisoning caused by ingestion of paraquat; characterized by progressive damage to the esophagus and liver and kidneys.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Symptoms of paraquat poisoning may include immediate oral and gastrointestinal irritation, followed by mucosal ulceration and inflammation.
- The first documented case of paraquat poisoning in the medical literature described four fatalities following the intentional ingestion of the highly concentrated herbicide.
- Paraquat poisoning is highly toxic to humans, either by accidental or deliberate ingestion of the substance.
- As there is no antidote for paraquat poisoning, treatment primarily focuses on removal of the ingested substance from the body as quickly as possible.
- The development of treatments for paraquat poisoning was spurred by the widespread misuse of the herbicide in the 1970s and 1980s.