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Suicide and exposure to organophosphate insecticides: cause or effect?

L London1, A J Flisher, C Wesseling

  • 1Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. ll@cormack.uct.ac.za

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|March 19, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Organophosphates (OPs) are linked to suicide, not just as agents but potentially as a causal factor. Focusing solely on OPs as suicide agents overlooks broader prevention strategies and corporate responsibility.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental toxicology
  • Neuroscience
  • Public health

Background:

  • Pesticide poisoning is a significant global health issue.
  • Suicide is a major cause of pesticide poisoning deaths.
  • Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are widely used in agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the association between pesticide exposure and suicide.
  • To examine the neurotoxicity of OP pesticides.
  • To explore the role of OPs in the causal pathway of suicide.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mortality and morbidity studies.
  • Analysis of human and animal studies on OP pesticide neurotoxicity.
  • Synthesis of epidemiological, case series, and ecological study findings.

Main Results:

  • High suicide rates observed in agricultural populations.
  • OP exposure linked to central nervous system serotonin disturbances, associated with depression and suicide.
  • Epidemiological and ecological studies support a causal link between OP exposure and suicide.

Conclusions:

  • OPs may contribute causally to suicide, beyond being mere agents.
  • Framing OPs solely as suicide agents shifts responsibility from manufacturers to individuals.
  • A broader perspective is needed for effective prevention and policy development.

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