Parathion Poisoning Increasing Frequency in Finland

A New Agent in Parathion Poisoning

“…Deaths, mainly suicides, from parathion rose steadily in Finland to 8) total of 105 in 1957. 7 Japanese estimates of the number of cases of parathion poisoning in a 5-year period reached 6,000. 8 Singapore experienced a serious outbreak of organic phosphate insecticide poisoning in 1959;12 this was traced to parathioncontaminated barley imported from Western Europe.…”

Parathion Poisoning in a Young Infant

“…Numerous accidental poisonings have occurred as a result of skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion,3-8 often in children old enough to be ambulatory or to feed themselves. Toivonen,9 in 1951, commented on the increasing use of parathion as an agent in suicides. Seifert,10 reported on infanticide of a 9-week-old-baby who was given two or three drops of parathion (E 605).…”

The Oximes and Organophosphate Poisoning

“…In Israel, parathion is among the 5 most com¬ mon causes of fatal poisoning.4 Deaths, mainly suicides, from parathion rose stead¬ ily in Finland to a total of 105 in 1957. 5 Japanese estimates of the number of cases of parathion poisoning in a 5-year period reached in this regard.8) In July, 1960, 2 Wis¬ consin children, aged 16 months and 3J/2 years, died after exposure to parathion9; and 10 days later, 3 Florida children were found dead after their brother fed them a mixture of guava fruit, pancake flour, onion, spice, and some parathion powder obtained from an unmarked brown paper bag.10…”