NCJ Number
241232
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2012 Pages: 1014-1021
Date Published
July 2012
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article discusses pesticide poisoning in Turkey.
Abstract
Pesticide poisoning is still a significant health problem in Turkey. Researchers 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 percent (n = 40, mean [+/- SD] age, 44.7 +/- 14.1), women 25.9 percent (n = 14, mean [+/- SD] age, 39.2 +/- 18.9). The majority of pesticide-poisoning deaths were suicides (n = 43, 80 percent) followed by accidents (n = 4, 8 percent) and homicide (n = 1, 2 percent). The manner of death could not be determined in six cases (11 percent). Suicides mostly occurred at home (n = 26, 63 percent) (p less than 0.05). Methomyl was the most frequent pesticide (n = 9, 17 percent) 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 lawmakers are needed for enacting strict laws against highly hazardous pesticides. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.