Oral mucosal response to exposure to diquat: a rare occupational injury

Diquat is a quaternary ammonium herbicide closely related to paraquat, and is used commonly by commercial and domestic gardeners. The systemic toxicity of this group of compounds is well-known, but isolated human oral mucosal responses to topical exposure are not well-reported. We present details of an accidental mucosal exposure to diquat during manufacture and the resultant injury, and give guidance for appropriate management of such an exposure.