L'Herbicide Interdit - Toxic emergency in the French Amazon

French Guiana a European territory in the Amazon is facing a unique health drama: poisoning by paraquat a herbicide banned in the EU but still present on its soil. This book explores this crisis from the public health issues at stake to the clinical challenges posed by treatment in the isolated region of western Guyana.The book is divided into three parts. First it sets out the paradoxical context of this poison in paradise and the factors that perpetuate its use. It then deciphers the emergency medical response implemented by the Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Guyanais (CHOG) faced with extremely serious cases and limited resources. Finally it details an innovative care protocol specifically designed for isolated environments and demonstrates its effectiveness through the analysis of two poignant clinical cases of intoxication in pregnant women with contrasting outcomes.More than just a practical guide this book is a plea for concerted action combining regulatory reinforcement targeted prevention and research to protect the most vulnerable populations from this avoidable scourge.