Acute pesticide poisoning: Comparison of epidemiologicalcharacteristics between the rural and urban population (original) (raw)
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Economic burden of illness from pesticide poisonings in highland Ecuador
Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 2000
Active surveillance of acute pesticide poisonings in a potato-growing region of highland Ecuador during 1991-1992 uncovered a rate of 171/100 000, due predominantly to occupational exposures to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. Occupational exposure among agricultural workers was the most common reason for poisoning (32 male workers and 1 female worker, out of a total of 50 cases). Of these 33 cases, 28 of them reported pesticide application as the work task just prior to poisoning, with over 80% citing the use of World Health Organization Hazard Category I pesticides. The suicide rate of 17.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2010
As suicide rates have increased in rural areas in Brazil, it was postulated that pesticide exposure may play a role in this phenomenon. Our study compared the suicide mortality rates observed among agricultural workers from a pesticide-intensive area in Brazil to the suicide mortality frequency noted in three reference populations. In addition, hospitalization rates attributed to suicide attempts and mood disorders including depression in residents of the same agricultural area were compared to two reference populations. Finally, data on pesticide sales per agricultural worker were obtained for each city of Rio de Janeiro State and suicide mortality risk was then calculated according to the quartiles of pesticide sales per agricultural workers, using the first quartile as reference. Agricultural workers were at greater risk for lethality due to suicide when compared to all three reference populations. In addition, residents of the same study area showed higher hospitalization rates by suicide attempts and mood disorders than observed in comparison populations. Results also showed that the risk of death by suicide was significantly higher among agricultural workers who lived in areas of Rio de Janeiro State displaying higher rates of pesticide expenditure per agricultural worker. These results suggest that pesticide exposure may indeed increase the risk of suicide frequency, especially among agricultural workers.
Suicide by intentional ingestion of pesticides: a continuing tragedy in developing countries
International Journal of Epidemiology, 2003
Deliberate self-poisoning has become an increasingly common response to emotional distress in young adults, 1 and it is now one of the most frequent reasons for emergency hospital admission. 2 In industrialized countries, the drugs that people commonly take in overdose-analgesics, tranquillisers, antidepressants 3are relatively non-toxic. The estimated case fatality for overdose in England, for example, is around 0.5%. 4 Most individuals who self-harm do not intend to die. Studies carried out in industrialized countries have found that only 2% go on to commit suicide in the subsequent 12 months. 5 In developing countries the situation is quite different. 6 The substances most commonly used for self-poisoning are agricultural pesticides. 6-11 Overall case fatality ranges from 10% to 20%. 12 For this reason, deaths from pesticide poisoning make a major contribution to patterns of suicide in developing nations, particularly in rural areas. 6 In rural China, for example, pesticides account for over 60% of suicides. 8 Similarly high proportions of suicides are due to pesticides in rural areas of Sri Lanka (71%), 13 Trinidad (68%), 14 and Malaysia (Ͼ90%). 10 There is, however, no evidence that levels of suicidal intent associated with pesticide ingestion in these countries are any higher than those associated with drug overdose in industrialized countries, where the drugs taken in overdose are less toxic.
Acute pesticide poisoning in Ecuador: a short epidemiological report
Journal of Public Health, 2010
Aim The aim of this paper is to analyze the epidemiological pattern, the occupational background and the public health problems of acute pesticide poisoning in Ecuador. This is the first report of its kind. Subjects and methods This was an observational and retrospective study performed with data from 2001 to 2007 from the National Register of Hospital Admissions/Discharges from the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos, and also with data from the Ministry of Public Health. Ecuador does not have an official public medical poisoning registry or disease-specific registries. Results The complete register reported 44,931 cases of poisoning with an average of 6,418 cases per year and a global progressive increase of 2,123 cases in the entire period. It reported 14,145 cases of pesticide poisoning. Of these, 10,100 cases were due to the effects of the insecticides organophospate and carbamate. The number of cases by gender was 7,102 (50.21%) males and 7,043 (49.79%) females. The major age group affected was adolescents and young adults. Conclusion In Ecuador, pesticide poisoning occurs in individuals of both sexes who are between 15 to 25 years old and work in adverse conditions as agricultural farmers. The poisoning especially occurs in flower and banana plantation workers throughout the country. Seventy-one percent of the cases are due to organophosphate and carbamate poisonings, which cause death in 4% of the cases; 57% die in the first 48 h, possibly because of the acute action of AChE inhibitors. The long-term effects of pesticides are still unclear and need further research.
Incidence of acute pesticide poisonings in Nicaragua: a public health concern
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2009
Objectives: To estimate the cumulative incidence rate of acute pesticide poisoning in the year 2000 among Nicaraguan subjects over 15 years of age. Methods: Data on pesticide exposure and health effects were assessed in a nationally representative survey. Based on self-reported cases, we estimated the 1-year incidence rate and the number of expected cases of acute pesticide poisonings in Nicaragua. Results: Among the 3169 survey respondents, we identified 72 persons who self-reported one episode of acute pesticide poisoning in 2000. Of these, 65 cases (90%) were related to occupational exposure, five (7%) to domestic exposure and two (3%) to intentional exposure. The cumulative incidence rate/100 individuals of pesticide poisonings in Nicaragua in 2000 was 2.3 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.8). This corresponds to 66 113 cases (95% CI 51 017 to 81 210). The highest rate was found among males in rural areas, particularly among farmers and agricultural workers. Conclusion: This study demonstrates an extremely high risk of acute pesticide poisoning in Nicaragua. Considering this, comprehensive measures should be implemented to reduce adverse health effects.
The global distribution of fatal pesticide self-poisoning: systematic review
BMC public …, 2007
Background: Evidence is accumulating that pesticide self-poisoning is one of the most commonly used methods of suicide worldwide, but the magnitude of the problem and the global distribution of these deaths is unknown. Methods: We have systematically reviewed the worldwide literature to estimate the number of pesticide suicides in each of the World Health Organisation's six regions and the global burden of fatal self-poisoning with pesticides. We used the following data sources: Medline, EMBASE and psycINFO (1990-2007), papers cited in publications retrieved, the worldwide web (using Google) and our personal collections of papers and books. Our aim was to identify papers enabling us to estimate the proportion of a country's suicides due to pesticide self-poisoning. Results: We conservatively estimate that there are 258,234 (plausible range 233,997 to 325,907) deaths from pesticide self-poisoning worldwide each year, accounting for 30% (range 27% to 37%) of suicides globally. Official data from India probably underestimate the incidence of suicides; applying evidence-based corrections to India's official data, our estimate for world suicides using pesticides increases to 371,594 (range 347,357 to 439,267). The proportion of all suicides using pesticides varies from 4% in the European Region to over 50% in the Western Pacific Region but this proportion is not concordant with the volume of pesticides sold in each region; it is the pattern of pesticide use and the toxicity of the products, not the quantity used, that influences the likelihood they will be used in acts of fatal self-harm. Conclusion: Pesticide self-poisoning accounts for about one-third of the world's suicides. Epidemiological and toxicological data suggest that many of these deaths might be prevented if (a) the use of pesticides most toxic to humans was restricted, (b) pesticides could be safely stored in rural communities, and (c) the accessibility and quality of care for poisoning could be improved.
Socio-demographic profile of pesticide poisoning cases admitted in a rural hospital of West Bengal
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, 2016
Background: In developing countries acute pesticide poisoning remains an important issue and according to WHO (1999) more than three million poisoning cases with 251,881 deaths occur worldwide annually, of which, 99% of fatal poisonings occur in developing countries, particularly among agricultural workers. Objectives: The objectives were to study the socio-demographic profile of the pesticide poisoning cases, explore the circumstances and routes of poisoning and determine the time gap between the intake of poison and hospital admission. Materials and methods: It was an institution based observational descriptive study with cross-sectional design. The study was conducted in Tarakeswar rural hospital of Hooghly district, West Bengal. The duration of study was 6 months (January-June 2015). All diagnosed and admitted pesticide poisoning cases in the IPD of Tarakeswar Rural Hospital during the study period constituted the study population. A predesigned, pretested semi structured schedule was used for collecting background information from the study population. Pre-testing was conducted to assess the feasibility, acceptability and reliability of the tool. Study sample was diagnosed pesticide poisoning cases admitted in the hospital during the days of survey. Admission register of the poisoning ward, Bed-Head Tickets (BHTs) and investigation reports were checked for collecting some necessary information. Circumstances of poisoning, routes of poisoning and presence of social problems were explored from the study population. Total 61 admitted cases participated in the study. Data were tabulated in Microsoft excel spread sheet. Appropriate statistical methods were used for analysis and interpretation. Results: Median age was found 25 years and majority (65.6%) of the subjects was from 16-30 years of age group. Male (49.1%) and females (50.9%) were almost equally involved. Majority (83.4%) of the study population were from rural area. Regarding poisoning circumstances, majority were found to be suicidal (77%) followed by accidental (16.4%) and occupational (6.6%). Majority of the poisoning (65.6%) was found to be due to organophosphorus. Median time taken to admit the subjects in the study hospital after poisoning was calculated to be 6 hours. Significant associations (p<0.05) are found between suicide attempt with social problems, addiction and family type. Conclusion: There is a need of more detailed study to better elicit and understand the important factors related to pesticide poisoning. Some important facts revealed in the current study will be better understood if larger population can be involved in a more detailed study in order to help in more generalization of the results.