Management overview for glyphosate poisoning

Glyphosate is a herbicide that is mixed with surfactant (polyoxyethylamine). Glyphosate is formulated in concentrated products (eg 30 to 50%) and ready-to-use products (eg prediluted to 1 to 5%). The concentration of ready-to-use glyphosate is low and rarely causes problems after ingestion. If toxicity occurs following ingestion of ready-to-use products, it is thought to be predominantly due to the surfactant that causes mitochondrial dysfunction.

Ingestion of concentrated glyphosate products can cause liver and kidney dysfunction, cardiovascular toxicity, and metabolic acidosis secondary to mitochondrial toxicity. Some products contain a potassium glyphosate salt and can cause severe hyperkalaemia if ingested.

If glyphosate poisoning is suspected, particularly involving deliberate ingestions, urgently contact a clinical toxicologist or poisons information centre (13 11 26). The aims of management after glyphosate poisoning are to prevent multiorgan dysfunction, and identify and treat life-threatening hyperkalaemia.