Activated charcoal works by which mechanism to help in pesticide poisoning?

• A. It dilutes the pesticide in the stomach.
• B. It neutralizes pesticides chemically in the bloodstream.
• C. It adsorbs pesticides that may have been ingested.
• D. It speeds elimination through kidneys.

Answer: (C)

Activated charcoal works by adsorbing pesticides that may have been ingested, reducing their absorption into the body. The charcoal’s porous surface binds the toxin, forming a complex that stays in the GI tract and is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream. This is a physical adsorption process, not a chemical neutralization in the blood, and it doesn’t speed elimination through the kidneys. It also doesn’t dilute stomach contents; its effect comes from binding toxins in the gut to limit systemic exposure. Timing matters—administration soon after ingestion increases effectiveness, especially for pesticides that are well adsorbed by charcoal.