J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2015 Jun;13(1):40-42.

A Case of Chlorfluazuron Insectisides Poisoning with Mental Change

• Park ES
• Kang S
• Kim AJ
• Baek JH
• Jung HM

Abstract

Benzoylureas are chemical compounds best known for their use as insecticides. Diflubenzuron is one of the more commonly used benzoylurea pesticides. Others include chlorfluazuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, and triflumuron. They act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting synthesis of chitin in the body of the insect. They have low toxicity in mammals because mammals have no chitin. Chlorfluazuron insecticides, which are mixed with solvent naphatha, are commonly used. Thus we assume that in the presented case mental change outcome of poisoning was connected with toxic effects of solvent naphtha rather than with chlorfluazuron action. Components of solvent naphtha, particularly trimethylbenzenes, exert strong irritant action on the gastric mucosa and are very well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. We report on a 67-year-old man with stuporous mentality after intentional ingestion of approximately 200 ml of liquid chlorfluazuron in a suicide attempt. He was discharged after conservative treatments including gastric irrigation, charcoal, mechanical ventilation, hydration, and antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia without complications.

Keyword

Chlorfluazuron; Complications; Solvent naphtha

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Charcoal
Chitin
Diflubenzuron
Eating
Gastric Lavage
Gastric Mucosa
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Insecticides
Insects
Juvenile Hormones
Mammals
Pesticides
Pneumonia, Aspiration
Poisoning*
Respiration, Artificial
Stupor
Suicide
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Charcoal
Chitin
Diflubenzuron
Insecticides
Juvenile Hormones
Pesticides