In May 2011, the illegal use of the phthalate plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in clouding agents for use in foods and beverages was reported in Taiwan. This food scandal has caused shock and panic among the majority of Taiwanese people and has attracted international attention. Phthalate exposure is assessed by ambient monitoring or human biomonitoring. Ambient monitoring relies on measuring chemicals in environmental media, foodstuff and consumer products. Human biomonitoring determines body burden by measuring the chemicals, their metabolites or specific reaction products in human specimens. In mammalian development, the fetus is set to develop into a female. Because the female phenotype is the default, impairment of testosterone production or action before the late phase may lead to feminizing characteristics. Phthalates disrupt the development of androgen-dependent structures by inhibiting fetal testicular testosterone biosynthesis. The spectrum of effects obtained following perinatal exposure of male rats to phthalates has remarkable similarities with the human testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Epidemiological studies have suggested associations between phthalate exposure and shorter gestational age, shorter anogenital distance, shorter penis, incomplete testicular descent, sex hormone alteration, precocious puberty, pubertal gynecomastia, premature thelarche, rhinitis, eczema, asthma, low birth weight, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, low intelligence quotient, thyroid hormone alteration, and hypospadias in infants and children. Furthermore, many studies have suggested associations between phthalate exposure and increased sperm DNA damage, decreased proportion of sperm with normal morphology, decreased sperm concentration, decreased sperm morphology, sex hormone alteration, decreased pulmonary function, endometriosis, uterine leiomyomas, breast cancer, obesity, hyperprolactinemia, and thyroid hormone alteration in adults. Finally, the number of phthalate-related scientific publications from Taiwan has increased greatly over the past 5 years, which may reflect the health effects from the illegal addition of phthalate plasticizer to clouding agent in foodstuff over the past two decades.

Here, we report a case of acute ingestion of an insecticide formulation containing 9.7% imidacloprid, <2 % surfactant, and the balance as solvent, N-methyl pyrrolidone. Clinical manifestation included drowsiness, disorientation, dizziness, oral and gastroesophageal erosions, hemorrhagic gastritis, productive cough, fever, leukocytosis, and hyperglycemia. The patient recovered without complication with supportive treatment and was discharged 4 days after ingestion. Follow-up barium upper gastrointestinal examination 1 month later was normal. Because moderate to high dose imidacloprid in animals causes central nervous system activation similar to nicotine, including tremors, impaired pupillary function, and hypothermia, it is unclear whether imidacloprid had a causal role in the patient's initial drowsiness and dizziness. It is more likely that the formulation ingredients, particularly N-methyl pyrrolidone, caused most of the clinical symptoms including minor central nervous system depression, gastrointestinal irritation, and hyperglycemia.

This paper describes a case of acute poisoning with Proclaim insecticide (Syngenta, Taiwan), consisting of 2.15% w/w emamectin benzoate in 2, 6-bis (1, 1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol and 1-hexanol. The clinical manifestation was transient gastrointestinal upset with endoscopy-proven gastric erosion and superficial gastritis, mild central nervous system depression, and aspiration pneumonia. No specific antidote exists for emamectin benzoate intoxication; this patient was treated successfully with gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal, and empiric antibiotics. Drugs that enhance GABA activity such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines were avoided.

Fertilizers are used to promote the survival and growth of plants and crops and have a good safety record when used properly. The basic elements in fertilizer include phosphorus, nitrite, and potassium. In addition, there are additive agents that vary for different crops and which may include some metals. Acute intoxication by ingesting fertilizer includes damage to various organ systems as well as severe cardiovascular or respiratory distress. We report the case of a 64-year-old man who ingested about 700 mL of fertilizer and suffered acute renal failure, hyperkalemia, and mild methemoglobinemia. After supportive care and emergent hemodialysis for hemodynamic instability due to hyperkalemia, the renal function of the patient recovered in four days.