Poisoning with dichlorvos and its vapors: symptoms, first aid at home, treatment

Nowadays, the problem of various pests, such as flies, cockroaches and bedbugs, is faced not only by people who have their own house or plot, but also by those who live in an apartment. If a person had to deal with such an unpleasant phenomenon, then the first thing he will think is to poison them with dichlorvos. This remedy is popular among more than one generation, so it is firmly entrenched in the modern world.

But not everyone knows that it can harm a person. This happens because a person neglects safety rules. But just one inhalation of dichlorvos can cause irreparable harm to internal organs. This is explained by the fact that dichlorvos is a chemical, or more precisely, it belongs to organophosphorus compounds. Such products are dangerous for absolutely everyone, not just insects. For example, when cockroaches were poisoned in a house or apartment, and after that the room was poorly ventilated, a person may experience symptoms of dichlorvos poisoning. Extreme caution should be exercised when handling this poisonous drug.

What is it and what is it used for

Dichlorvos is a broad-spectrum insecticide against flying and crawling insects in industrial, commercial and residential premises.

The original composition of Dichlorvos was very dangerous, but now it is produced differently. The current formula uses pyrethroids instead of dangerous toxins, making the insecticide more gentle. The effectiveness was not affected by this, but for humans Dichlorvos is now not as dangerous as before.

In stores you can find its varieties with the same name, but with explanatory prefixes - Neo, Eco, Super, etc.

So is it possible to be poisoned by Dichlorvos if the pyrethroids that became the basis of its composition are low-toxic and not so dangerous for humans? Considering that the drug remains a chemical agent, under certain conditions it is possible to be poisoned by Dichlorvos.

Properties, characteristics and applications

Before considering the main symptoms and features of the treatment of poisoning with this drug, you should know that Dichlorvos is an insecticide belonging to the class of organophosphorus substances. The advantages of the product include:

rapid impact on various types of ticks and insects;
relatively low toxicity to humans;
good decomposition under environmental influences;
no harm to plants.

However, this product also had some disadvantages, which were as follows:

when treating a room, the substance must subsequently take a long time to erode;
the possibility of poisoning by the drug due to the fact that it is classified as an organophosphorus compound that can cause serious disorders of the central nervous system;
harm to humans in case of poor ventilation of the room.

Important! If this substance enters the human stomach, a dose of 0.5-1 gram is lethal.

The above-described shortcomings led to the fact that the drug was simply banned for use, and this ban is still in effect. The same insect repellents that are currently actively produced under the Dichlorvos brand contain permethrin and derivatives of this substance. But it is possible to be poisoned by them even today.

Causes of poisoning

Dichlorvos can be poisoned in three ways: by ingestion, on the skin, or by inhalation of its vapors. This happens for a number of reasons:

treatment of premises without special form and ventilation,
intentional ingestion or subcutaneous injection for the purpose of committing suicide,
the chemical accidentally ended up in the hands of children,
children, pregnant women and animals were not evacuated from the premises at the time of treatment.

Dichlorvos is assigned hazard class 3, which indicates its low toxicity, so you can only become poisoned by it due to your own carelessness. An amount of insecticide equal to 0.5–2 g can be a lethal dose.

Composition of dichlorvos

Let's look at the composition of the substance and try to figure out whether it is possible to be poisoned by dichlorvos and what the risks may be. The active components of this product are pyrethroid insecticides:

deltamethrin;
permethrin;
piperonyl oxide;
cypermethrin.

Additional auxiliary components of the composition are:

aliphatic hydrocarbons;
dimethyl sulfoxide;
ethanol;
preservatives.

Pyrethroids are considered substances of the third hazard class, that is, they are low toxic. Most often, the human liver copes with them on its own: it breaks them down into safe metabolites. But there are cases of poisoning for the following reasons:

carrying out manipulations with dichlorvos without the use of protective equipment or in an unventilated, poorly ventilated room;
children playing with unattended dichlorvos;
poisoning of particularly vulnerable persons (children, pregnant women, pets) who remained in the treated area;
attempts by suicides to commit suicide by swallowing dichlorvos or injecting it under the skin.

A dose of 0.5-2 g of this drug is considered fatal for humans, depending on the age, weight and health status of the victim. This clearly indicates that dichlorvos is dangerous for humans and requires a careful approach to operation.

Symptoms

Signs of Dichlorvos poisoning depend on how the insecticide entered the body.

If the product gets on the skin, the victim may experience:

burning,
redness,
tingling,
signs of allergy (itching, swelling, etc.).

If Dichlorvos gets into the eyes due to careless spraying, the following will appear:

redness of the membrane,
itching and pain,
increased lacrimation,
conjunctival discharge.

Vapor poisoning will cause the following symptoms in a person:

headache,
dizziness,
runny nose,
cough,
respiratory tract irritation,
temperature 38–39 °C,
loss of coordination
nausea with uncontrollable vomiting.

Read also: Human poisoning with fly agaric

Symptoms of Dichlorvos poisoning when ingested are the most severe compared to the previous ones:

painful vomiting,
diarrhea,
increased sweating,
blurred vision,
difficulty breathing,
convulsions.

In addition to the general symptoms described above, there are stages of Dichlorvos poisoning. They can be used to judge the severity of the victim’s condition.

Hidden consequences of using dichlorvos in everyday life

The article describes the effect of dichlorvos on the human body and shows the public's awareness of precautions and methods of using dichlorvos-containing insecticides.

Key words: toxicology, dichlorvos, poisoning, insecticides.

In the modern world, most people are faced with the fight against insects. There are a huge variety of products that are used for this purpose, but the most famous and widely used is dichlorvos.

Today, the main reason for the use of dichlorvos is the seasonal migration of insects into residential premises and non-compliance with municipal hygiene standards. This forces people to destroy pests on their own, as a result of which many are faced with the problem of poisoning with dichlorvos and its derivatives. Dichlorvos poisoning occurs due to non-compliance with the method of application and protective measures.

Dichlorvos is a colorless, highly volatile liquid, highly soluble in most organic solvents, and is well sorbed by porous materials without loss of toxicity. This substance is a broad-spectrum insecticide with low toxicity to the human body. This allows the use of dichlorvos-containing insecticides at home [1].

The effect of dichlorvos on the human body directly depends on the concentration, route of entry and time of exposure. There are several methods of poisoning - inhalation of vapors, contact with the skin and mucous membranes, entry through the gastrointestinal tract. The most severe intoxication of the body occurs as a result of a single inhalation of a large dose of dichlorvos or intoxication with small doses over a long period of time. [2]. The severity of the toxic effect depends on the general condition of the affected organism, individual characteristics and previous alcoholism [3]. When the ethanol content in the blood exceeds 0.16 ppm, the toxic effect of dichlorvos increases [4].

When it enters the body, dichlorvos binds to blood components, as a result of which some of the toxicant is excreted unchanged in the urine. The remaining part undergoes biotransformation in the blood plasma and intestinal mucosa by hydrolysis with the eventual formation of dichloroethanol, which is excreted in the urine in the form of a non-toxic metabolite - dichloroethanol glucoronide [5,6]. Dichlorvos is able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and has a toxic effect on the central and peripheral nervous system [1].

Depending on the severity of intoxication, there are: mild, moderate and severe forms. A mild form of poisoning does not have significant clinical manifestations and is accompanied by headache, dizziness, constriction of the pupils, swelling of the mucous membranes, increased salivation, runny nose, increased sweating, and dyspeptic symptoms. This symptom does not cause concern among the population, as a result of which people do not seek medical help. Lack of treatment increases the risk of developing complications of a person’s chronic diseases.

Poisoning of moderate severity is characterized by weakness, dizziness, headache, constriction of the pupils, the appearance of a “mesh before the eyes,” tremors, convulsions, increased salivation and sweating, runny nose, difficulty breathing, a feeling of suffocation, cardiac arrhythmia and nausea. At the same time, changes in the psycho-emotional background are observed - increased irritability and aggression, the emergence of feelings of anxiety and fear.

In severe poisoning, blood pressure drops sharply, bradycardia develops, the pupils are constricted, and there is no reaction to light. Intense cyanosis, attacks of suffocation, depression of the respiratory and vasomotor centers, convulsions and the development of coma are noted. When choline-reactive structures are depleted, respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest occur [4,7].

Many people with a mild form of dichlorvos poisoning do not go to hospitals for help, so the actual statistics of poisoning are reduced. To confirm this hypothesis, a study was conducted among medical university students.

The purpose of the study was to analyze a survey of students about awareness of precautions for using dichlorvos and methods of protection against its negative effects on the human body. The study involved 152 medical university students. The respondents were divided into two groups. The first group included those who used dichlorvos-containing insecticides; the second group - those who did not use dichlorvos-containing insecticides. The first group included 80 people who developed symptoms after using dichlorvos. The data is presented in Figure 1.

Rice. 1. Symptoms of dichlorvos poisoning

Five groups of symptoms have been identified. Asthenic syndrome includes symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, and weakness. The following symptoms include dysfunction of the ocular apparatus: dry eyes, itching, irritation, swelling of the mucous membranes, tearing, change in pupil size. Respiratory system disorders include shortness of breath, cough, and attacks of suffocation. Violation of the integrity of the skin includes redness, peeling, burning sensation, itching, and pain. Dyspeptic syndrome disorders - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation.

The figure shows that 18 people showed asthenic syndrome and disorders of the respiratory system. These symptoms appeared after treating the premises as a result of the lack of personal protective equipment and non-compliance with hygienic requirements in the form of wet cleaning. The recorded symptoms are characteristic of mild poisoning with an organophosphate household compound.

The permissible content of dichlorvos in air, water, food and the human body is specified in SanPiN 1.2.3685–21 [8]. It can be assumed that the permissible daily dose in the human body exceeded the standard - 0.004 mg/kg of human body weight.

In order not to exceed the permissible standards indicated above, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions on the packaging of the product and take into account the specifics of the method of using the dichlorvos-containing insecticide.

Manufacturers often recommend spraying the product at a distance of one meter from walls and furniture for a certain time indoors. It is necessary to treat all work surfaces, plumbing fixtures and elements of the ventilation system, avoiding bedding and clothing. After use, the room is ventilated for 30 minutes. It is important to note that the packaging of the products does not contain information about the use of personal protective equipment and the need for wet cleaning, surface treatment after completion of use of the product, as well as isolation of food, fruits and vegetables when using dichlorvos, since consumption of food on which the vapors have settled insecticide should not be used.

The data obtained from the survey showed that informing the population is not enough, so it is necessary to increase awareness by introducing accessible information into the “life safety fundamentals” curriculum. It is necessary to increase the font size on the packaging, add detailed information about the active substance, the importance of using personal protective equipment and wet surface treatment after using the insecticide.

Literature:

Aleksandrov M.V. Extreme toxicology - St. Petersburg: Niva, 2010.
Khalikov A. A., Bolshakov R. B., Chernova R. B., Nazmieva A. R. Forensic medical examination in case of poisoning - Ufa: Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education BSMU, 2018.
Kalyagin A. N. Acute poisoning - Irkutsk: Irkutsk State Medical University, 2011.
Kutsenko S. A. Military toxicology, radiobiology and medical protection - St. Petersburg: FOLIANT, 2004.
Lepeshko P. N., Bondarenko L. M. Toxicological and hygienic assessment of new chemical substances introduced into production - Minsk: BSMU, 2022.
Ukolov A.I. Methodology for detecting biomarkers of industrial pollutants - St. Petersburg: 2022.
Ivleva N.V. Poisoning by household organophosphorus compounds - Orel: OBMK, 2016.
Resolution of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation dated January 28, 2021 N 2 “On approval of sanitary rules and norms SanPiN 1.2.3685–21

Stages of poisoning

There are only 3 stages of Dichlorvos poisoning, and each of them is characterized by its own symptoms:

Stage of increased arousal. It appears after a few minutes, begins with an inexplicable surge of strength (the person literally rushes from side to side), but this is accompanied by an inability to control movements. Blood pressure rises, pupils constrict, and tachycardia develops. The victim becomes dizzy and has a migraine. The salivary glands work in an enhanced mode (saliva drips from the mouth).
Stage of coordination disorders. Appears after a few hours. The patient's condition as a whole worsens. The urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent, while urination and defecation are accompanied by pain. It is difficult for a person to breathe, vision becomes blurry, tremors of the limbs and body convulsions appear, saliva is already flowing in a continuous stream. Gradually the poisoned person falls into a stupor. In the absence of help, pulmonary edema develops and death occurs.
Paralytic stage. A person loses consciousness, all reflexes are lost, paralysis of muscles and breathing occurs. Blood pressure drops and bradycardia develops. If you do not help in time, the victim will die within a day or earlier.

In children, due to their still fragile immunity, all signs of poisoning develop much faster, so you need to call a doctor at the first signs of intoxication.

First aid

To successfully resolve the problem, quick and competent actions of everyone who is close to the victim are important. In case of Dichlorvos poisoning, all symptoms will depend on the route through which the insecticide entered the body, and this must also be taken into account when providing assistance.

If Dichlorvos gets into your eyes, they should be thoroughly rinsed under running water or a 2% soda solution (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of water). Saline solution can be used for the same purpose. If the eyes are red, after rinsing, you need to instill anti-inflammatory drops, apply a bandage and consult an ophthalmologist.

If Dichlorvos gets on the skin, treat the affected area with a 2% soda solution or wash with soap and water. It is forbidden to rub the place where the poison has entered, since mechanical action on irritated skin allows toxins to penetrate even deeper.

Read also: Poisoning in humans with Corvalol

A victim who has inhaled Dichlorvos vapor should be quickly evacuated to fresh air, rinse the nostrils and mouth with water. The patient must remove all clothing that has been in contact with the insecticide and may also have a poisonous effect. After this, put the person to bed and provide him with peace.

If some of the poison gets inside, first aid for Dichlorvos poisoning should be provided especially quickly and carefully:

give the victim plenty to drink,
make him vomit
give any sorbents,
an hour later - saline laxative medicine,
do an enema (if you have the skill),
ensure frequent and abundant drinking (teas, jelly, water are suitable),
create conditions for bed rest and rest,
further, monitor the patient’s compliance with a special diet, including light food (and be sure to give kefir, which perfectly restores intestinal flora).

Thus, all assistance measures should be aimed at removing toxins and further alleviating the patient’s condition.

If an allergic person suffers from Dichlorvos, you should urgently give him antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, as well as ointments for skin lesions). If a child under 1 year of age has been poisoned, calling a doctor is necessary in any case.

Mild poisoning with Dichlorvos does not require medical intervention and usually goes away on its own in 2-3 days. But there are situations when the victim needs professional help, which can only be provided in a hospital department.

How to use the aerosol

It is believed that the treatment procedure with dichlorvos is not complicated, but it requires full compliance with the rules. If you deviate from them, the result is not guaranteed and there may be a threat to human health. Initially, according to the standard, one 190 ml can should be enough for 30 square meters, but it is best to purchase it with a reserve in order to separately walk through secluded corners where pests can hide.

According to the instructions for using dichlorvos neo, the procedure depends on the type of insect:

Flies and mosquitoes - it is necessary to spray the aerosol on glass, window frames, doors and cabinets, as this is where flying insects most often accumulate.
Moth - spray the product in cabinets at a ratio of 2 seconds per 1 cubic meter.
Cockroaches and bedbugs are the most difficult to deal with. Possible habitats: cracks or wooden furniture parts; the reverse side of paintings, carpets, wall clocks, mirrors; under peeling wallpaper; behind skirting boards and radiators. To be effective, you need to spray directly on the pest itself, so you will need to move or disassemble furniture - a favorite place for bedbugs.
Fleas - in this situation, walls up to a height of about a meter are treated. It is recommended to throw away the animal’s sleeping place or treat it, and then wash it thoroughly.
Killing ants is the simplest thing - you don’t need to treat the entire room, just treating the ant paths is enough.

In any case, the can must be held at arm's length at a distance of 20-25 cm from the target. Spray for no more than five seconds.

After treatment, immediately leave the room to avoid inhaling the chemicals. Ventilation can begin within 30-40 minutes for a period of two hours. Afterwards, thoroughly wash all surfaces on which the product has come into contact.

Treatment

An ambulance team arriving on call will necessarily hospitalize a person if his condition, in the opinion of doctors, requires it. The doctor will determine what to do in case of poisoning in each specific case, but basically these will be the following measures:

gastric lavage with a probe (if necessary - twice),
elimination of seizures,
Alox or atropine sulfate as an antidote,
therapy to maintain cardiac function,
antibacterial drugs to avoid the development of secondary infection,
Ventilation for breathing problems.

Symptoms and treatment after Dichlorvos poisoning are closely interrelated, and all therapeutic actions will be carried out depending on the routes of penetration of the poison and the patient’s condition.

How does Dichlorvos work against cockroaches?

For the cockroach repellent to take effect, you must:

Find the nest or location of the cockroaches, and then spray Dichlorvos around and directly into the habitat.
You can accurately spray directly onto the insect.
Another effective method is to apply the product to furniture and baseboards, where cockroaches most often appear.

The more Dichlorvos is applied to the cockroach habitat areas, the more effective the product is. Each insect that is affected by the spray transfers the poison to its fellow insects.

Consequences

Health problems as a result of exposure to Dichlorvos can appear both immediately after poisoning and after some time. In this regard, complications and long-term consequences are distinguished.

Complications develop within two weeks after intoxication and lead to the following diseases:

dystrophy of the heart muscle,
toxic hepatitis,
nephropathy,
pneumonia.

to the entry “Poisoning with dichlorvos and its vapors - what to do at home”

Anna:
08/17/2018 at 14:57
After reading the article, I was pleasantly surprised. The information was really presented well and clearly, no questions arose while reading, everything was clear. I gained additional knowledge, thank you, good article.
Answer
serega:
08/19/2018 at 13:18
Dichlorvos poisoning is an unpleasant phenomenon that leads to serious disruption of the functioning of internal organs. If signs of intoxication appear, you must contact a medical facility.
Answer
Kirill:
08/20/2018 at 23:57
Good article, everything was said correctly, I recently had poisoning, I did everything the same as stated in your article... I wish there were more articles like this
Answer
Nina:
08/06/2020 at 16:30
I realized that I inhaled dichlorvos during treatment for ants. They treat a cold: cough, fever, runny nose, but did not catch a cold. I understood after reading the article. I need to tell the doctor, maybe all the signs are really from dichlorvos
Answer

Prevention

All preventive measures come down to following simple rules:

Treat premises with Dichlorvos only in a protective form (all parts of the body must be covered and a respirator must be worn).
When spraying and after it, the room should be well ventilated.
Do not use Dichlorvos if you are pregnant or prone to allergies.
When spraying an insecticide at home and for another 4–6 hours after that, all people and animals should be removed from the room (especially children, pregnant women, allergy sufferers, and the elderly).
After treatment, all work surfaces must be washed (tables, door handles, armrests, etc.).
Buy Dichlorvos only in the store (not in dubious markets where a lot of clandestinely produced goods are sold).
Keep dangerous substances away from children.
If you have no experience in disinfestation, do not carry it out yourself (call SES employees).

Since the composition of modern Dichlorvos is relatively safe, poisoning with this chemical can only be done intentionally or in case of gross violations of the rules of use. With a responsible approach and understanding that the work is carried out with chemicals, cases of intoxication are excluded.

Preparing the room before treatment

Before you start treating the room with the product, you need to do several preparation procedures:

Make sure that there are no people or animals left in the room.
Remove all indoor plants when it is safe to do so.
Remove or cover personal items so that they are not exposed to aerosol.
To clear out secluded places where insects gather as much as possible: dismantle baseboards, disassemble furniture, turn over mattresses.
Warn neighbors about your intention to carry out treatment.
Close all windows and doors to prevent drafts.
Wear personal protective equipment: gloves, gown, goggles or mask. It is important to protect yourself from direct contact of the substance with the skin.