Suicides
Hospital-based survey of pesticide poisoning in Japan (01.01.05)
Nagami H, Nishigaki Y, Matsushima S, Matsushita T, Asanuma S, Yajima N, Usuda M, and Hirosawa M, Hospital-based survey of pesticide poisoning in Japan, 1998-2002, International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health 11(2), 180-184, 2005
Out of 346 pesticide poisonings recorded between 1998 and 2002 in Japanese hospitals, 70% were suicidal, while 65 poisonings (or 18.8%) occurred during spraying, preparation, settlement, or reentry, and 8% were due to accidental ingestion. Organophosphates accounted for 36% of poisonings and bipyridylium herbicides (paraquat and diquat) for 20%. Paraquat products were the main cause of deaths. Patients recovered in 69% of the cases and in 25% of cases they died, while in 6% the outcome appears to be unknown. In Japan the mortality from paraquat poisoning is extremely high and physicians in intensive care units are hoping for a ban on paraquat. It was stated that it would be appropriate to assign paraquat to WHO class Ia or Ib. The hospital-based survey was estimated to cover 1.5-2.5% of all acute poisonings caused by pesticides.
Out of 346 pesticide poisonings recorded between 1998 and 2002 in Japanese hospitals, 70% were suicidal, while 65 poisonings (or 18.8%) occurred during spraying, preparation, settlement, or reentry, and 8% were due to accidental ingestion. Organophosphates accounted for 36% of poisonings and bipyridylium herbicides (paraquat and diquat) for 20%. Paraquat products were the main cause of deaths. Patients recovered in 69% of the cases and in 25% of cases they died, while in 6% the outcome appears to be unknown. In Japan the mortality from paraquat poisoning is extremely high and physicians in intensive care units are hoping for a ban on paraquat. It was stated that it would be appropriate to assign paraquat to WHO class Ia or Ib. The hospital-based survey was estimated to cover 1.5-2.5% of all acute poisonings caused by pesticides.
