In japan, pesticides have been used increasingly after World War II and pesticide poisoning has been a major issue of rural medicine. In other Asian countries, pesticide poisoning also seems to be a great concern of rural medicine and occupational and environmental medicine as well. We reviewed the results of research on the prevention of pesticide poisoning in Asia with the reports of international organizations and articles which appeared in medical journals.The WHO Glabal Information Network on Chemicals worked out an international protocol to collect and analyze the cases of pesticide poisoning, and is carrying out hospital-based surveys in east and south Asia from 1998. These data were discussed in comparison with the results of our hospital-based survey of pesticide poisoning in 1998-2000.Also, FAO has been exploring the concept of “community integrated pest management (CIPM)” from 1999, in Asian countries. In a project related to this, farmers were asked to report their pesticide use and symptoms, and researchers analyzed the data and gave advice to the farmers, and these practices produced so fruitful findings that the farmers have come to refrain from using hazardous pesticides of their own accord. These research projects are expected to complementarily contribute to the prevention of pesticide poisoning. We resumed the hospital-based survey of pesticide poisoning in 1996, and have collected and analyzed several hundreds cases. In order to reduce pesticide poisoning in Japan and other Asian countries, we are interested in rendering cooperation in those projects.
Pesticides ; Poisoning aspects ; Prevention ; Asia ; Review [Publication Type]

Data concerning clinical cases of pesticide-induced disorders were collected from members of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine during 1998-2000 FY throughout the nation, and were analyzed statistically.
1) A total of 209 cases of poisoning by agricultural chemicals were reported from 49 hospitals and other medical institutions.
2) By types of clinical manifestations, the majority of the cases were acute or subacute pesticide poisoning (91%), which was followed by acute dermatitis (5%) and chemical burn (3%).
3) Suicide accounted for 67% of the pesticide poisoning cases, which was followed by accidental exposure on the job during spraying (17%), and so forth.
4) Organophosphate insecticides were the most frequent inducers of the clinical cases (34%), which was followed by bipyridylium herbicides (21%) and a carbamate insecticides (9%), and so forth.
5) There were 43 cases of intoxication during spraying, during preparation or settling, and working in sprayed areas By types of clinical manifestations, the majority of the cases were acute or subacute pesticide poisoning (56%), which was followed by acute dermatitis (23%) and chemical burn (16%).
6) Agricultural chemical compounds responsible for the clinical cases varied greatly. They induced organophosphate insecticides (19%), and bipyridylium herbicides (12%).
7) Main factors contributing to the onset of pesticide-related disorders were insufficient protective clothing (32%), carelessness (22%), and inevitable consequences of pesticide use (10%).

Pesticide poisoning is one of the most inportant health issues associated with rural medicine, and chronic nervous and mental disorders are its importnat sequelae. We investigated suquela cases nationwide, and reviewed chronic nervous and mental disorders from a clinical and epidemiological point of view.
Our nationwide survey found one reported case of delayed neuropathy. The patient ingested organophosphorus insecticides, and showed delayed neuropathy dozens days after.
Cases of delayed neuropathy attributable to Mipafox was reported in1951.This disease is mainly caused by organophosphorus insecticides. Carbamate insecticides are also known as the agents to induce delayed neuropathy. Herbicide Glufosinate (Basta^TM) was put on the market in 1984. The case reports published during the 1990's pointed out that some Glufosinate poisonings cause amnesia and disorientation. Thesecases were reviewed according to the types of pesticides or their groups.
An epidemiological investigation of neurological and psychiatric desorders among such workers exposed to several types of pesticides as plantation workers and sheep dippers was made. These exposed workers were at high risk of mild cognitive dysfunction, tremor, weakness, and so on to a significant extent. Those children who were exposed to organochlorine insecticide and pollutant via placenta or milk were also surveyed whether they had impairments of nervous and mental development. Highly exposed children were significantly slow in development relative to their peers. The results of these investigations were also reviewed.

Data concerning clinical cases of pesticide poisoning/disorders were collected from members of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine during 2001-2003, and were analyzed statistically.A total of 194 cases of poisoning/disorders by pesticide exposure were reported from 36 hospitals and other medical institutions. Suicide cases accounted for 74% of the total number of cases, which was followed by the cases caused by exposure during spraying (17%) and drinking/eating by mistake (7%).In 144 suicide cases, those of males accounted for 52%, the middle-aged and older people constituted the majority. By types of clinical manifestations, almost all of the cases were acute or subacute pesticide poisoning (98%). Organophosphate insecticides were the most frequent inducers of the cases (39%), which was followed by bipyridylium herbicides (23%). When it comes to the outcome, more than 80% of suicide cases with paraquat products resulted in death.There were 39 cases of pesticide poisoning/disorders resulting from exposure during spraying, preparation or settling, and working in sprayed area. In these cases, males accounted for 70% the middle-aged and older people made up the majority. By types of clinical manifestations, the cases of acute or subacute pesticide poisoning accounted for 39%, which was followed by acute dermatitis (33%), chemical burn (14%), and ocular disorders (11%). The pesticides that induced clinical cases varied greatly. Main factors contributing to the onset of pesticide poisoning/disorders were insufficient protective clothing (44%), self conceit (19%), insufficient information (14%), and carelessness (12%).
Pesticides ; Clinical ; Poisoning aspects ; Acute ; Cases

There are no signs of a drop in the number of deaths in accidents while at farmwork, hovering around 400 a year. Furthermore, the fact remains that accurate data about those farm accidents are not fully grasped.This reality gave birth to a Special Study Team on the Prevention of Farmwork Accidents in the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine.To cast light on the actuality of farm work accidents, questionnaires on accidents caused by farm machinery and instruments were sent to three medical institutions affiliated with the Association from October 2002 to March 2004. As a result, clinical data were collected on 141 clinical cases. Moreover, studies were performed on five cases in which rescue squads were dispatched to give aid to the injured.The data thus collected on the clinical cases revealed that grass cutters, harvesters, riding and push-on-foot types of tractors, and straw cutters were responsible for many accidents. Some individuals were involved in the accidents as operators of grass cutters were unaware of their existence nearby because of noise from the machines, some dragged in by the harvesters or straw cutters, and some pinned under the tractors.Case studies on death-induced accidents suggested the indispensability of fitting a safety frame and a seat belt to the tractor and installing a cabin on the speed sprayer.For the prevention of accidents by farm machinery, it is important to hold lecture meetings more frequently both on the basic method of their use and on first aid.
Prevention ; Clinical ; Accidents ; Industrial machine, NOS ; Research

A China-Japan joint project was carried out to study the incidence of fluorosis caused by coal burning in China from 1995 to 1997.
The health survey covered a control area and two flourosis areas. In those research areas, drinking water was not polluted with fluorides. The survey was designed to analyze the health status of people exposed to fluorides and evaluate the relationships between the dose and incidence of fluorosis. The concentration of airborne pollutants in both indoor and outdoor air was measured. The concentration of fluoride in the urine was analyzed and definite diagnoses for dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis were determined.
As a result, the incidence of coal burning fluorosis was confirmed in studied areas. Moreover, the fluorosis was caused not only by the direct inhalation of the airbone fluorides in indoor air but also by the intake of cereals polluted with fluorides. Fluoride was contained in both coal and soil. Therefore the mixture of coal and soil used for the adjustment of fire energy contributed to the air pollution to a great extent. The typical polluted crops were red pepper, corn and potato. An extremely high concentration of fluoride in the urine of residents in the polluted areas was detected.