Hospital-based Survey of Clinical Cases of Pesticide Poisoning in Japan 2007-2009
10.2185/jjrm.61.32
- VernacularTitle:農薬中毒臨床例全国調査 2007～09年度
- Author:
Hiroshi NAGAMI
;
Tatsuo SHIIGAI
;
Fumio MAEJIMA
;
Yoshio NISHIGAKI
;
Shusuke NATSUKAWA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
2012;61(1):32-38
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Clinical cases of pesticide poisoning from 2007 through 2009 were analyzed based on data collected from the hospitals affiliated with the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine.
Two hundred and twelve cases of pesticide poisoning were reported from 48 hospitals. By gender, males accounted for 54%. By age group, those in the 60-69 age band accounted for 23%, followed by those 70-79 years old (22%) and those 50-59 years old (19%). By month, the incidence peaked in May or August accounted for 12% respectively. When it comes to occupational poisoning, the majority of the cases occurred in spring and summer, when pesticides were used frequently.
By type of pesticide exposure, suicide accounted for 77%, followed by occupation exposure (16%) and accidental ingestion (4%).
By type of clinical manifestation, acute poisoning was most frequent (90%), followed by dermatitis (3%) and ocular disorders (2%). When it comes to occupational exposure, the rate of acute poisoning decreased to 70%, and dermatitis and ocular disorders increased to 11% respectively.
Organo-phosphate insecticides topped the list of agricultural chemical compounds causing poisoning (32%), followed by amino acid herbicides (22%) and bipyridilium herbicide (10%). When it comes to main ingredients, glyphosate was the most frequent inducer (32 cases), followed by fenitrothion (25 cases) and paraquat (21 cases).
Thirty-six death cases were reported, of which 16 cases were by paraquat and 9 cases by organo-phosphate insecticides. The death rate and number from paraquat poisoning were by far larger than those from any other pesticides. A ban on the use of paraquat must be considered.
