The Chill Thrill

Abstract

This article is about one of the most toxic herbicide, the Paraquat, in the beverage Cola which resembles it in appearance. Although the sale of cola has been banned in some areas eg. in Kerala of India by a Government Order No. (Rt)No. 2396/06/II&FWD dated 10.08.2006 because of its residues of organochlorine pesticides like Chloropyrophos and Malathion, one of the most dangerous quarternary ammonium compound, the Paraquat that resembles cola has not been much mentioned. The cola is a carbonated soU drink sold in stores throughout the world after its recipe was first invented by John Pemberton originally in the name of coca wine in 1885. He intended it as a patent medicine but the patent was bought out by a businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led this cola to its dominance of the world of soft drink market throughout the 20^th and now the 21^st century. In acute toxicity studies using laboratory animals, Paraquat has been shown to be highly toxic by the inhalation route and has been placed in Toxicity Category I (the highest of four levels). However the p]PA has determined that particles used in agricultural practices (400-800 nanomicron) are well beyond the respirable range. It shows category II toxicity in the oral route and moderately toxic that is category III by the dermal route. Paraquat will cause moderate to severe eye irritation and minimal dermal irritation, and has been placed in toxicity categories II and IV (slightly toxic) for these effects.