An investigation on a death from paraquat poisoning by skin absorption in Thamaka District, Kanchanaburi Province, July 2020

Abstract

Nowadays, pesticides play a vital role in increasing agricultural productivity and cause health risks and occupational hazards in agricultural professionals. On 12 May 2020, a 53-year-old male patient was hospitalized in Makarak Hospital and deceased on 15 May 2020. The physician assumed that the cause of death was paraquat intoxication. Thereafter, the Division of Occupational and Environmental Diseases (DOED), the Department of Disease Control, Office of Disease Prevention and Control 5 in Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi Provincial Health Office, and Makarak Hospital have investigated the case in order to confirm the diagnosis. These entities tried to indicate the risk of paraquat exposure and determine controlling and preventive measures to protect from pesticide intoxication. The investigation found that the patient was exposed to paraquat by using a malfunctioned stainless-steel knapsack sprayer. The fluid leaked and soaked around his perineum during paraquat spraying. Afterwards, he did not even rinse his body clean properly. As a result, paraquat permeated his skin and poisoned him. Moreover, he did not have any experience of working with pesticides because he was not a farmer and worked as a temporary job. Therefore, the workers should be trained regarding the safe use of pesticides. The employers should abolish the use of paraquat. These measures will make the policies for prevention against the toxic effects of pesticides more efficient.