Abstract
A group of 18 male Caucasian workers from the United Kingdom and a further group of 18 male mixed race (mainly Malay) workers from Malaysia employed in the formulation of paraquat-based herbicides were examined for evidence of chronic ill health after long-term exposure to paraquat. Clinical records were examined, medical and occupational histories were obtained and a clinical examination, particularly of the skin, was undertaken. Skin rashes, nail damage and epistaxes were encountered by most workers as a result of direct contact of skin and mucous membranes with paraquat. These conditions subsided rapidly and no worker reported any sequelae. There was no clinical evidence of long-term effects on skin, mucous membranes or general health following exposure to paraquat over several years in these workers.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baran R. L. Letter: Nail damage caused by weed killers and insecticides. Arch Dermatol. 1974 Sep;110(3):467–467. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cant J. S., Lewis D. R. Ocular damage due to paraquat and diquat. Br Med J. 1968 Apr 27;2(5599):224–224. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5599.224. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Conolly M. E. Paraquat poisoning--clinical features. Proc R Soc Med. 1975 Jul;68(7):441–441. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fitzgerald G. R., Barniville G., Black J., Silke B., Carmody M., O'Dwyer W. F. Paraquat poisoning in agricultural workers. Ir Med J. 1978 Jul 21;71(10):336–342. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hearn C. E., Keir W. Nail damage in spray operators exposed to paraquat. Br J Ind Med. 1971 Oct;28(4):399–403. doi: 10.1136/oem.28.4.399. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Joyce M. Ocular damage caused by Paraquat. Br J Ophthalmol. 1969 Oct;53(10):688–690. doi: 10.1136/bjo.53.10.688. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Samman P. D., Johnston E. N. Nail damage associated with handling of paraquat and diquat. Br Med J. 1969 Mar 29;1(5647):818–819. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5647.818. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sinow J., Wei E. Ocular toxicity of paraquat. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1973 Mar;9(3):163–168. doi: 10.1007/BF01684997. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Staiff D. C., Comer S. W., Armstrong J. F., Wolfe H. R. Exposure to the herbicide, paraquat. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1975 Sep;14(3):334–340. doi: 10.1007/BF01685647. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Swan A. A. Exposure of spray operators to paraquat. Br J Ind Med. 1969 Oct;26(4):322–329. doi: 10.1136/oem.26.4.322. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]