Poisoning Treatment Centre Admissions Following Acute Incidents Involving Pesticides

Adult hospital admissions following acute exposures to pesticides are very uncommon & are more often due to parasuicide than to accidents. Most accidental pesticide incidents are work-related. Males are more likely to be involved than females (2:9:1). Life-threatening & fatal consequences developed in 24% of 54 incidents. Of the 10 fatalities, 8 were caused by paraquat, 8 were due to parasuicide & 2 to non-work related accidents.