The Forensic Deaths Caused by Pesticide Poisoning Between the Years 2006 and 2009 in Izmir, Turkey*

Abstract

Pesticide poisoning is still a significant health problem in Turkey. We conducted a retrospective study of autopsy cases at Izmir Branch of the Council of Forensic Medicine to describe the characteristics of deaths caused by pesticide poisoning between 2006 and 2009. The distributions of the cases according to gender and age were as follows: men 74.1% (n = 40, mean [±SD] age, 44.7 ± 14.1), women 25.9% (n = 14, mean [±SD] age, 39.2 ± 18.9). The majority of pesticide-poisoning deaths were suicides (n = 43, 80%) followed by accidents (n = 4, 8%) and homicide (n = 1, 2%). The manner of death could not be determined in six cases (11%). Suicides mostly occurred at home (n = 26, 63%) (p < 0.05). Methomyl was the most frequent pesticide (n = 9, 17%) among the all cases. This study reported that most of the pesticides found in poisoning cases were highly hazardous types. Combined efforts of medical professionals and law makers are needed for enacting strict laws against highly hazardous pesticides.

Retrospective Analysis of Pesticide Poisoning in Rural Area

“…Moreover, another study in Costa Rica reported that professional poisonings were the third most frequently seen poisoning type, after poisonings to commit suicide and accidentally (49). It has also been reported in other studies that 60-80% of pesticide poisonings were the result of a suicide attempt (31,38,40,50). Other studies in the literature support our finding that accidental poisoning is the second most common type, following suicidal poisoning (51,52).…”

“…In the study, which differed from our findings, it was determined that the pesticide poisoning cases occurred most often in the summer and winter months (39). It was reported that they occurred most often in the spring and summer, and that the deaths due to pesticide poisoning reached the highest level in June (40). In addition, it was reported that poisoning occurred most often during the summer months (41).…”

Fatal Intoxications in the North of Portugal: 12 Years of Retrospective Analysis

“…Most poisoning cases by pesticides occur as a result of misuse, accidental exposure and, in cases of accidental or suicidal exposure by oral ingestion [28]. Pesticide poisoning is also one of the most common methods of suicide in developing countries [29]. Although some authors [30,31] had studied new pesticide for- Fig.…”

Mortalidad debida a intoxicación por plaguicidas en Colombia entre 1998 y 2011

“…En este estudio, la frecuencia de muertes por intoxicación con plaguicidas fue mayor entre los hombres, tal como se ha reportado en otras partes del mundo (43)(44)(45), circunstancia que se ve favorecida en las áreas rurales donde existe un mayor acceso a los plaguicidas empleados en las actividades agrícolas (46).…”