Citation

Winek CL, Wahba WW, Edelstein JM. J. Anal. Toxicol. 1990; 14(4): 257-258.

Affiliation

Allegheny County Department of Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Preston Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2395350

Abstract

A 59-year-old white male accidentally ingested a mouthful of a plant growth chemical, Cycocel, containing 11.8% of the active ingredient (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (chlormequat). He was seen by a family physician and then transferred to a hospital where he died as a result of ventricular fibrillation, which progressed to asystole. Postingestion symptoms were typical of cholinergic crisis and included salivation, diaphoresis, bradycardia, visual disturbances, and seizure. Autopsy findings showed marked pulmonary edema, coronary atherosclerosis, atheromata of aorta, and localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Toxicological analyses of biological samples showed the presence of chlormequat in the stomach contents and urine.

Language: en