A contact herbicide widely used in agriculture and horticulture. People using paraquat should be careful to protect their eyes and skin so as not to come into contact with it: a mouthful is enough to kill, and the substance is involved in around 40 suicides annually in the UK. Major misuse has resulted from paraquat being decanted from the professional pack into soft-drink bottles and kept in the kitchen. Emergency assistance should be obtained as poisoning victims may require specialist attention including hospital inpatient care for renal DIALYSIS.