Working in a high risk environment such as the agricultural industry could mean that you’ve been exposed to a number of different, dangerous chemicals. Unfortunately, laws and legislations in the past were not as stringent as those in place now, so your previous career or lifestyle choices may now be affecting your long term health through no fault of your own. Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is used widely as a plant killer for weed and grass control. Usually, it’s available in liquid form and it can only be used by those who are licensed applicators. Due to its highly poisonous nature it is often colored with dye to prevent it from people confused with coffee and other beverages. Although these safeguards are in place now, this wasn’t always the case. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms that you may have been exposed to paraquat, and what you should do if you think you’ve been exposed.
What To Do If You’ve Been Exposed
Before going into detail about the signs and side effects of this toxic chemical, it’s important to understand what to do if you think you’ve been exposed. Suffering alone without any help can be a long and lonely road but you should seek advice from two different types of people. First of all, you should alert your health practitioner who will be able to advise you on the best possible steps to take next. Secondly, you should contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers who have a specialist team who deal with victims who have been exposed to Paraquat. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages so that you can feel as though justice has been served. Since this substance is only for commercial use, it’s only likely that you’ll have been exposed if you worked on a farm or you live extremely near an industrial farm. If you have any doubts, get in touch with your chosen lawyer and medical team.
Preventing Paraquat Exposure
If you work in the agricultural sector at the moment, then there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from becoming exposed to paraquat. Ingestion is the primary route of exposure, so you should avoid any further ingestion as much as possible. If you think you may have been exposed at that moment then remove your clothing and wash your entire body as quickly as possible. You should also seek out medical advice as soon as you can so that you can receive the best course of treatment.
Where Is Paraquat Usually Found?
Usually, Paraquat is found in a commonly used herbicide or weed killer. Since it was produced in 1961 for commercial purposes it has widely been used in the US by licensed users. This substance is not known to have been used in any wars or terrorist attacks, but the most likely route of exposure would be ingestion or swaling. Paraquat can easily be mixed with food, water or other products; in its purest form the chemical is tasteless and odorless so this wouldn’t necessarily be noticeable. In short, it’s a highly poisonous substance that can be life threatening if it’s ingested.
Immediate Signs and Symptoms of Exposure
One of the first signs of exposure truly depends on the amount and duration of exposure, as well as the individual person’s health conditions during that time. Paraquat causes severe damage to the lining of the mouth, stomach or intestines when it comes into contact. After it has entered the body it is distributed everywhere, which can cause toxic chemical reactions in the liver, lungs and kidney. If you suspect that you’ve been exposed to Paraquat then you may notice some pain and swelling in your mouth and throat. You may also notice other signs such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. With just a small amount of ingestion you may suffer from heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure and lung scarring. Within a few hours to a few days you may also experience any of the following signs: confusion, a coma, quickened heart rate, liver failure, muscle weakness, fluid in the lungs, seizures and respiratory failure.
Unfortunately, one of the long term effects of paraquat is Parkinson’s disease. Other long term effects include kidney, heart and lung damage. In a hospital, usually the paraquat will be removed from the body using activated charcoal, but there is no proven antidote or cure for paraquat poisoning.
