JIST

Abstract

Not only due to its action but also due to its effectiveness and affordability atrazine is still used as a herbicide in agriculture. Atrazine passes the most stringent, up-to date safety requirements in the world. In 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re-registered atrazine based on the overwhelming evidence of safety from nearly 6,000 studies. However its use is controversial due to widespread contamination in drinking water and its association with birth defects, menstrual problems and cancer when consumed by humans at concentrations below government standards. Although it has been excluded from a re-registration process in the European Union, it is still one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. No information was found on the acute toxicity of products containing atrazine alone in human subjects.

This is a case report of suicide by atrazine resulting in cardiac, hepatic and nephrotoxicity. It is important to note that atrazine can cause such trio-toxicity following ingestion which can result in mortality.