Paraquat lung

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Lungs

Paraquat lung

Definition:

Paraquat lung is a lung disease caused by the weed killer Paraquat (dipyridylium).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Paraquat is a highly toxic weed killer once promoted by the United States for use in Mexico to destroy marijuana plants. Research found that this herbicide was dangerous both to workers who applied it to the plants and to people who smoked the marijuana harvested from them.

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In the United States, Paraquat is classified as "restricted commercial use," andpeople must obtain a license to use the product.

Breathing in Paraquat may cause lung damage. Paraquat causes damage to the body when it touchesthe lining of the mouth, stomach, or intestines. You can get sick if Paraquat touches a cut on your skin. Paraquat mayalso damage the kidneys, liver,and esophagus.

If Paraquat is swallowed, death can rapidly occur. Death may occur froma hole in the esophagus, or from acute inflammation of the mediastinum, the area thatsurrounds themajor blood vessels and airways in the middle of the chest.

Chronic exposure to Paraquat may cause pulmonary fibrosis, a stiffening of the lung tissue.