• Ying-Chun Lo, Chen-Chang Yang, and Jou-Fang Deng.
• National Yang-Ming University, Faculty of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
• Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008 Sep 1;46(8):716-21.

BackgroundAlachlor and butachlor are commonly used herbicides. However, data on acute human poisonings are scarce. We retrospectively analyzed the data of human alachlor/butachlor poisoning in Taiwan.MethodsThe study period ran from October 1986 through February 2007. Sixty-three alachlor and 70 butachlor poisoning cases were reported to the Taiwan National Poison Center during the study period. Clinical data were reviewed and analyzed.ResultsMost patients intentionally ingested the herbicides. The toxicities of alachlor and butachlor were largely similar. Twenty-eight out of 102 patients with oral exposure were asymptomatic, while the others developed vomiting, central nervous system depression, and other outcomes. Among patients using other exposure pathways, gastrointestinal effects were the main manifestation. Three patients died after manifesting profound hypotension and/or coma following alachlor ingestion.ConclusionAlachlor and butachlor poisonings are usually of low toxicity. However, severe neurological and cardiovascular outcomes may develop rarely, especially following oral ingestion. Medical management of such poisonings is primarily supportive.

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