Grass and weed killer poisoning

Many weed killers contain dangerous chemicals that are harmful if swallowed. This article discusses poisoning by swallowing weed killers containing a chemical called glyphosate.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Glyphosate is the poisonous ingredient in some weed killers.

Where Found

Glyphosate is in weed killers with these brand names:

• Roundup
• Bronco
• Glifonox
• Kleen-up
• Rodeo
• Weedoff

Other products may also contain glyphosate.

Symptoms

Symptoms of glyphosate poisoning include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Anxiety

  Anxiety

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• Breathing difficulty
• Coma

  Coma

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• Blue lips or fingernails (rare)
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness

  Dizziness

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• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Irritation in the mouth and throat
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea and vomiting (may vomit blood)
• Weakness

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make a person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Poison Control

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

Exposure to glyphosate is not as harmful as exposure to other phosphates. But contact with a very large amount of it can cause severe symptoms. Care will begin by contaminating the person while starting other treatments.

The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

• Blood and urine tests
• Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Intravenous fluids (through a vein)
• Medicines to reverse the effects of the poison and treat symptoms
• Tube placed down the nose and into the stomach (sometimes)
• Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days

Outlook (Prognosis)

People who continue to improve over the first 4 to 6 hours after receiving medical treatment usually fully recover.