[Study of mortality rate in acute poisoning and its characteristics in a region with developed agriculture]

The lethality rate from acute intoxications was studied for the period 1975-1986 in the Tolboukhin district, Bulgaria, a district with a highly developed modern agriculture. A total of 119 persons died from intoxications during the period studied which makes 0.39% of all deceased and a mortality rate of 3.89/100,000 population. Men were five times more than women. 40% of the diseases were in the age group 41-60 years and 23.5% were above 60 years of age. Children up to 14 years were only 4. The peasants prevailed. The domestic (casual) intoxications are leading (62.2%), followed by suicides (32.8%) and professional intoxications (5%). Only 32.7% died in hospital, the remaining 61.3% died elsewhere. The main cause of death was alcohol (44.6%), followed by pesticides (mainly phosphororganic compounds--24.4%), on the 3d and 4th place are drugs and industrial products (including toxic gases--9.2%). Among the hospitalized patients prevailed those with pesticide intoxications (mainly phosphororganic compounds), followed by drugs and corrosive poisons. Among the non-hospitalized patients the alcoholic intoxications are leading, followed by industrial products. Appropriate conclusion are made.