Chemical burn by a herbicide, methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid (MCPP)

MCPP (2-(4-chloro-2-methyl phenoxy) propionic acid) is a phenoxy herbicide found in many household weed killers and lawn fertilizers. Some of the phenoxy acids, salts, and esters are moderately irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory and gastrointestinal linings. In a few individuals, local depigmentation has apparently resulted from protracted dermal contact with phenoxy compounds. Although acute irritant contact dermatitis induced by herbicides is common, chemical burns induced by herbicides have been reported infrequently in the literature. Here we describe a chemical burn in a 25 year old female after sitting on a lawn that had been sprayed with MCPP 3 days earlier. This case illustrates potential hazards of the herbicide on the lawn of a public park.