How Poisonous are Weed Killers?

Springtime is upon us which means lots of pesky weeds will be more prevalent as will the use of weed killers. Weed killers are popular to maintain lawns and landscaping. But how safe are children and pets being around these chemicals? 

Thousands of exposures are reported to U.S. poison centers every year. Fortunately, the majority of cases have mild to no symptoms. However, major effects or even death can occur. These cases usually involve deliberate, large ingestions. But there are also inadvertent or exploratory ingestions by children that generally only cause mild irritation of the exposed tissue in areas such as the gastrointestinal tract, skin, eyes, or respiratory tract.

The two major classes of herbicides in the U.S. are glyphosates and chlorophenoxy compounds. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide, and is the most widely used herbicide in the US. It is available under a variety of trade names, including Roundup. Glyphosate is related to the amino acid glycine and kills plants by interfering with the synthesis of other amino acids. The addition of other chemicals to glyphosate mixtures (such as diquat and surfactants) are responsible for much of the reported toxicity. Exposure is common because of the popularity of these products, but severe toxicity is rare.

Ingestion of products containing glyphosate can cause gastrointestinal effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain), oral pain, and slight sedation. Skin exposure can cause it to become red and irritated along with “goose bumps”. These products are not expected to produce significant adverse effects when users follow the recommended instructions. They generally state that, “Pets such as cats and dogs should remain out of the treatment area until it is thoroughly dry. Once the application area has dried, your pets may reenter the area. Although they may eat a small amount of grass, they will not be able to eat enough of the product to cause a health hazard.”

Chlorophenoxy compounds (also known as 2,4-D compounds) are other chemicals commonly found in weed killers. Several hundred commercial products contain these compounds in various forms, concentrations, and combinations. They are often mixed into commercial fertilizers to restrict the growth of broadleaf weeds. Chlorophenoxy compounds have been shown to cause skin irritation with skin contact; airway irritation with inhalation; and nausea, vomiting, and increased acid levels with large ingestions.

For those who prefer non-chemical options for weed control: manually pulling out weeds by the roots to prevent regrowth, mulching, and possibly by applying acetic acid like vinegar to unwanted plants may be considered.

Overall, weed killers intended for residential use are considered safe when used appropriately. It is important to read all instructions on the product’s labeling and allow the product to completely dry before permitting children or pets to enter the lawn. As with all chemicals, be sure to store in the original container and out of reach from children. The Texas Poison Center Network is a trustworthy and easily accessible resource to take advantage of if an inadvertent exposure occurs, to find out if a trip to the Emergency Department is necessary as well as just to ask any questions.  Specialist at the poison center can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 1-800-222-1222.

CSEC Seeking Public Member for the Poison Control Coordinating Committee

Do you think you have what it takes to make a difference in poison control? We hope you do! The Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) is seeking an interested individual to serve as its public appointee to the state's Poison Control Coordinating Committee (PCCC). While the position is unpaid and a volunteer position, it comes with a lot of benefits in other ways.

“It is wonderful to be a part of a team that works toward the health and safety of Texans.  The Poison Control Network provides a vital service for Texans in poison emergencies,” previous public member Grace Chimene said. “As the Public Member to the Poison Control Coordinating Committee, you will have an opportunity to provide an outsider's viewpoint and a public perspective to help coordinate TPCN services across the state.”

The 81st Texas Legislature created the committee (House Bill 1093) for the purposes of coordinating the activities of the state's six regional poison control centers and advising the Commission. The committee is composed of representatives of the CSEC, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), each of the six Regional Poison Control Centers, and one public member appointed by CSEC. The committee typically meets monthly, usually by conference call.

“Poison emergencies happen fast.  I took pride in the volunteer service I provided as the Public Member to the Poison Control Coordinating Committee,” Chimene said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to help an organization whose goal is to be accessible 24 hours a day with well-trained medical professionals available to help in a poison emergency.”

This position is very important to the PCCC and as the Public Member, your opinion will provide valuable insight and understanding from the public’s perspective. This position does not require any training, but if you have training in clinical medicine, pharmacology, or nursing, this would provide even more value to the PCCC.

“As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I understood the importance of the services provided by the Poison Control Network,” Chimene said. “My little patients and their families rely on this emergency service to be effective, well-coordinated, and high quality.”

If you are interested in finding out more about this position or are interested in serving, please contact CSEC’s Executive Director Kelli Merriweather at (512) 305-6938, or kelli.merriweather@csec.texas.gov.

Why Alcohol and Medications Don’t Mix

It usually starts out harmless. You take your prescribed medication once you get home from work. Then a friend calls and invites you to dinner. You meet for dinner and decide to have a couple of glasses of wine. But did you know that alcohol and medicines often don’t mix? What most people don’t realize is that alcohol mixed with certain medications can be a very dangerous combination.

Combining alcohol and medicines, whether prescription or over-the-counter, can lead to life-threatening consequences depending on the medicine, the amount of alcohol consumed, medical conditions, body size and age.

Alcohol can interact with medicines in several ways:

• Medications, such as the antibiotic metronidazole, may prevent the metabolism of alcohol and cause a “disulfiram-like” reaction that includes abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and flushing.  This reaction has even been reported to cause sudden death.   
• Alcohol can make the risk of drowsiness and impaired motor function caused by medicine more likely.
• Alcohol can increase the risk of medicine side effects, such as lowered blood pressure and stomach irritation.     

Not everyone is affected the same way. Because of a smaller body size, a woman who drinks the same amount as a man will have a higher alcohol level in her blood, making her more at risk for an interaction. Elderly people may experience more drowsiness and motor impairment than their younger counterparts when they combine alcohol with another medicine that causes drowsiness.  People who regularly consume large quantities of alcohol are at more risk of some types of interactions than those who have only an occasional drink.  

The Texas Poison Center Network wants you to keep these in mind when tending to your medications:

• If a medicine causes you to be drowsy, assume that it will interact with alcohol to make you even drowsier and more likely to be impaired. Examples include cough and cold medicine and over-the-counter sleep aids.  
• If you are taking a prescription drug for anxiety, stress, depression, mood control, seizure control, or pain control, always assume that alcohol will interact with it. In addition to increasing the risk for drowsiness, dizziness and impairment, mixing alcohol with these medicines can place you at risk for life-threatening breathing difficulties and other dangerous effects.  People taking these drugs should not drink beverages containing alcohol. 
• If you are taking any medicine to treat stomach pain, be aware that alcohol can make stomach pain worse and make the drug less effective. 
• If you are taking any medicine that causes you to have stomach pain or nausea, drinking alcohol will likely make your stomach pain and nausea worse. 
• Some blood pressure drugs, when mixed with alcohol, increase the chance for your blood pressure to drop too low. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for details about the specific blood pressure medicine you are taking. 
• Some diabetes drugs, when mixed with alcohol, can make your blood sugar fall too low. 
• When mixed with alcohol, some antibiotics and diabetes drugs can cause flushing, nausea, vomiting, confusion, low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. These medicines usually have a sticker on the prescription bottle warning against consuming alcohol.

Remember, this is not a full list of interactions between medicines and alcohol. If you take any medicine, always talk with a doctor or pharmacist before drinking alcohol. If someone does experience effects from combining alcohol and medicine, call the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222 for expert medical help 24/7.