Pesticide Poisoning: a Major Health Problem in Sri Lanka

Intentional ingestion of liquid pesticides is the most common method of suicide in Sri Lanka. Easy availability & widespread use of these chemicals are argued to be the most important reasons for this. It is stated that programs promoting the safe use of pesticides would be ineffective because knowledge is already high & most cases are intentional. Prevention should include enforcing legislation which restricts access to the most toxic pesticides & the use of non-chemical pest control methods.