Tetraethyl Pyrophosphate Poisoning Following Airplane Dusting

Abstract
The health hazard of drifting pesticide dusts has long been appreciated. However, poisoning by this method has never been documented. Under unusual conditions of static air, drifting of 1% tetraethyl pyrophosphate dust caused two small outbreaks of mild topical pulmonary poisoning at Toppenish and Wenatchee, Wash. The predominant symptom, shortness of breath, cleared soon after the exposures were terminated. However, cattle were systemically poisoned and two heifers died. There were at least five other similar outbreaks reported in cattle in the same valley. The applications had been made by airplane in accordance with practices current for 16 years. Onsets occurred after the dust had been breathed for about 30 minutes. Whenever people or animals are inadvertently enveloped in such static clouds in the future, their more prompt removal from the area should prevent recurrence of these episodes.

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