Telangana doctors demand ban on lethal herbicide Paraquat, amid rising suicide cases

Doctors in Telangana have urged the government to ban Paraquat, a toxic herbicide linked to a growing number of suicides among farmers and youth. The fast-acting poison offers little scope for medical rescue and remains easily available despite regulations.

Hyderabad: Senior physicians from Telangana have called for a ban on Paraquat, an easily available herbicide, which is quickly becoming a fatal choice for farmers and youngsters in committing suicide.
In the last month, several instances have been reported in Kagaznagar, Karimnagar, Mancherial in Telangana and Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, wherein farmers and youngsters from agricultural background consumed Paraquat in an attempt to commit suicide.

Even a single spoon of this weedicide is enough to get completely absorbed into the bloodstream, from where it reaches organs including kidneys, liver and lungs, and severely affects them.

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Doctors say they do not get much time to perform gastric lavage commonly known as stomach pumping, on patients to empty contents. Once Paraquat is ingested, it gets absorbed very quickly, making it very difficult to save lives.

“We are calling for a complete ban on the availability of Paraquat as it becoming a preferred poison for desperate farmers and youngsters, who ingest it out of desperation. Compared to other weedicides, Paraquat hardly gives any time to perform gastric lavage or administer antidotes such as atropine to save lives,” says Dr Gautam Pasula, senior office bearer of Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA).

Also known as Paraquat dichloride, the herbicide is often described as non-selective, as it kills all vegetation that comes into contact with. The substance falls under a category of organic compounds known as viologens, and was first produced commercially in the 1960s. Farmers spray the weedicide on plots of land prior to cultivation and the weeds die within a few days.

“We submitted appeal for its ban to senior authorities and there is a need for government to think seriously about this issue. Unlike most of other common pesticides, Paraquat does not have an antidote and even a small amount is enough to cause death,” Dr Gautam points out.

The HRDA raised concerns that despite regulations, Paraquat is being misused due to lack of sufficient regulation at the ground level as it is readily available without any prescription or safety guidelines.

• Instances of Paraquat herbicide poisoning among farmers and youngster on the rise

• Doctors urge government for ban of this deadly herbicide

• Regulated under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and for use in wheat, rice, tea, and coffee.

• Despite regulations, misused for individuals wanting to die by suicide

• Paraquet does not have antidote and is absorbed very quickly

• It is banned in nearly 70 countries. Odisha had imposed temporary ban on it

• Damages kidney, liver and lungs beyond repair

• Causes quick organ failure, making it difficult to save patients