Andhra Pradesh govt cracks down on paraquat amid rising poisoning deaths

Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh govt has decided to prohibit the sale, distribution and use of paraquat — a highly toxic herbicide increasingly linked to suicides in rural and agrarian communities — for a period of 60 days, pending further investigation into the matter.The decision follows recent incidents in which victims consumed paraquat dichloride 24% SL, resulting in rapid deaths due to its extreme toxicity. Before this decision, the director general of police had requested the govt to impose a temporary ban on the sale, stock, distribution, manufacturing, and use of paraquat and its formulations under the relevant legal provisions. Officials said that its easy availability and high lethality have contributed to misuse in both suicidal and accidental poisoning cases.Meanwhile, the health department has also enclosed expert reports, which concluded that paraquat poisoning represents a major public health emergency, particularly in rural Andhra Pradesh, and noted that its rapid systemic toxicity, high fatality rate, and absence of a specific antidote make it one of the most serious threats in clinical toxicology.Medical experts have repeatedly warned that paraquat dichloride carries an extremely high fatality rate, with even small quantities capable of causing death. Once absorbed into the body, the chemical rapidly damages vital organs, particularly the lungs, liver and kidneys, often resulting in irreversible multiorgan failure.A study conducted on fatal poisoning cases autopsied at KGH/Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam from 2023 found that paraquat alone accounted for 39.4% of poisoning-related deaths within the study population. The study also highlighted a growing trend of herbicides such as paraquat being used for self-harm.The recent NCRB data further showed that Andhra Pradesh recorded 2,871 deaths due to insecticide consumption in 2024, placing it among states with the highest number of pesticide-related suicides in the country.Another study documented the death of a 55-year-old farmer in Visakhapatnam who inhaled paraquat while spraying pesticides without adequate protective equipment. Despite intensive medical treatment, he died within 48 hours. Clinical and pathological findings revealed severe multiorgan damage, demonstrating how paraquat rapidly spreads through the body after exposure.During autopsy, the farmer’s lungs were found to be heavily congested and hemorrhagic. The liver was enlarged with yellowish discolouration suggestive of fatty degeneration and liver failure, while the kidneys showed internal bleeding and toxic injury. The brain was also swollen with mild yellowish discolouration, indicating neurological involvement.Researchers described the case as evidence that even non-ingestional exposure to paraquat can prove fatal within a short duration. They also noted that many farmers continue to handle pesticides without masks, gloves or protective clothing due to financial constraints and lack of awareness regarding inhalational toxicity.Another recent study evaluated 166 patients with paraquat poisoning between Jan 2015 and Oct 2024, including 109 patients from Andhra Pradesh. The overall survival rate was only 20.5%, with a median survival time of five days.Public health experts believe the temporary ban could significantly reduce both intentional and accidental paraquat poisoning cases, particularly in rural and agrarian regions where the herbicide is widely used. Restricting access to such a highly lethal chemical may help lower impulsive suicide attempts, as studies have shown that limiting the availability of highly toxic pesticides can reduce pesticide-related deaths.