Influence of Pesticide Regulation on Acute Poisoning Deaths in Sri Lanka

This document assesses the impact of pesticide regulation on the number of deaths from poisoning in Sri Lanka. These regulations, implemented in the 1970s, aimed to reduce the number of deaths – mainly from self-poisoning – by limiting the availability & use of highly toxic pesticides. It is found that the total national number of admissions due to poisoning & admissions due to pesticide poisoning both sharply increased between 1986, but that the case fatality proportion fell at the same time. Explanations for this are explored. (48 refs)