Suicides
Paraquat intoxication in Korea (01.01.02)
Hwang K-Y, Lee E-Y, and Hong S-Y, Paraquat intoxication in Korea, Archives of Environmental Health 57(2), 162-166, 2002
Paraquat has been used for 3 decades in Korea. It has caused an estimated 2,000 intoxications annually, and the annual mortality among those intoxicated is 40-50%. One hundred seventy-five patients, poisoned by pesticides, were admitted to the Institute of Pesticide Poisoning (IPP), from January through December 1999. Of those 175 patients, 154 (88.8%) were intoxicated by paraquat. Out of the154 recorded paraquat poisonings 73.4% were intentional, and it represented a significantly higher fatality rate (53.2%) than accidental poisoning (19.1%). Pesticide poisonings also occurred due to lacking safety measures. Among 54 farmers who were treated, 32 of the cases were intentional, 17 accidental and 5 occupational (by paraquat aerosol). Suicidal attempts were associated significantly with fatality in crude analysis, but the significance disappeared after the adjustment for the ingested amount. No significant relationships between critical therapeutic modalities and outcomes were observed. The risk of a fatal outcome increased significantly with the amount of paraquat ingested and absorbed. A positive urine test for paraquat was associated significantly with fatality in a dose-dependent manner.
Paraquat has been used for 3 decades in Korea. It has caused an estimated 2,000 intoxications annually, and the annual mortality among those intoxicated is 40-50%. One hundred seventy-five patients, poisoned by pesticides, were admitted to the Institute of Pesticide Poisoning (IPP), from January through December 1999. Of those 175 patients, 154 (88.8%) were intoxicated by paraquat. Out of the154 recorded paraquat poisonings 73.4% were intentional, and it represented a significantly higher fatality rate (53.2%) than accidental poisoning (19.1%). Pesticide poisonings also occurred due to lacking safety measures. Among 54 farmers who were treated, 32 of the cases were intentional, 17 accidental and 5 occupational (by paraquat aerosol). Suicidal attempts were associated significantly with fatality in crude analysis, but the significance disappeared after the adjustment for the ingested amount. No significant relationships between critical therapeutic modalities and outcomes were observed. The risk of a fatal outcome increased significantly with the amount of paraquat ingested and absorbed. A positive urine test for paraquat was associated significantly with fatality in a dose-dependent manner.
