• Jeongmi Moon and Byeongjo Chun.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
• Emerg Med J. 2015 Aug 1;32(8):632-6.

ObjectiveStudies on the acute toxicity of pendimethalin herbicide in humans are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the clinical characteristics of acute intentional pendimethalin herbicide poisoning.Material And MethodA retrospective observational case series was conducted involving 17 patients with a history of intentional pendimethalin herbicide ingestion. Data were collected on clinical manifestations, management and final outcome.ResultThe mortality rate was 0%; however, four patients (23.5%) exhibited metabolic acidosis, hypotension or respiratory failure within the first 24 h after ingestion and required admission to the intensive care unit. The most common complication was respiratory failure, followed by hypotension. Complicated patients tended to show an altered mental state and X-ray abnormalities at presentation.Discussion And ConclusionsPhysicians should be aware that patients who have been poisoned with pendimethalin herbicide, and particularly patients with a depressed mental state and X-ray abnormalities at presentation, may exhibit metabolic acidosis, hypotension, respiratory failure or pancreatitis.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

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