Herbicides, also commonly known as weed killers, are substances used to control undesired plants. Just inhaling small amounts of herbicides can cause a variety of symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness. But drinking them is a different story.

In one such incident, a 41-year-old farmer, GW, mistakenly consumed herbicide, thinking it was a sports drink. This grave error led to a series of life-threatening complications, shedding light on the dangers of mislabeling and the toxic effects of certain herbicides on the human body.

The Mistake

GW, a farmer from Middle America, had been landscaping his lot during the summer. To save space, he decided to transfer leftover chemicals into smaller bottles. In the process, he mistakenly poured herbicide into an empty sports drink bottle. A few months later, while working in his field, he took a swig from this bottle, thinking it was his drink. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, he realized his grave error. He tried to induce vomiting to expel the herbicide but was unsuccessful.

Rushing to the emergency room, GW was sweaty, panicked, and in evident distress. A chemical test on his urine confirmed the medical team’s worst fears. They immediately realized the gravity of the situation and prepared for the impending medical challenges.

The Chemical Culprit: Diquat Dibromide

The herbicide GW consumed was identified as Diquat dibromide, a common herbicide available in most home improvement stores in the U.S. Its mechanism of action in plants involves disrupting photosynthesis, effectively starving the plant. However, in humans, the chemical similarly wreaks havoc, cycling electrons and causing widespread cellular damage. The electron cycling mechanism of diquat involves its ability to undergo redox cycling, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species. These ROS can cause oxidative damage to cells and tissues, leading to the herbicidal action of diquat in plants and its toxic effects in non-target organisms.

The Devastating Effects

Within hours of ingestion, GW’s organs began to fail. His heart rate and blood pressure plummeted, his kidneys shut down, and his liver showed signs of severe damage. The herbicide also caused irritation and ulceration in his esophagus and stomach. The medical team administered activated charcoal and began dialysis, hoping to deactivate the herbicide and prevent further absorption. However, two hours had already passed since the ingestion, making this intervention less effective. GW had to be sedated and intubated shortly after arriving at the hospital so that a machine could breathe for him. The medical team also paralyzed him, using medicines to take full control of his body in an attempt to manage his impending multi-organ failure.

Several days after his admission to the hospital, scans showed abnormalities in GW’s brainstem. The damage progressed, and the brainstem began to show signs of oxygen starvation, known as infarction. The damage was believed to be related to the electron cycling mechanism of diquat, which caused oxidative stress and damage in the presence of iron, especially in the Red Nuclei, which connects the cerebellum to the rest of the brain.

The herbicide also caused left ventricular dysfunction, meaning a part of his heart was not beating effectively. This led to a drop in his blood pressure and, eventually, an erratic heart rhythm. The left ventricle started shaking in place without coming to a full contraction, which meant blood wasn’t being effectively pumped throughout his body. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, GW’s condition deteriorated. Seventeen days after presenting to the emergency room, he developed a severe erratic heart rhythm. His left ventricle started shaking without contracting fully, leading to a lack of blood flow throughout his body. Despite attempts at CPR and resuscitation, GW could not be revived and passed away.