Agrochemical poisoning in Sri Lanka

Mortality resulting from agrochemicals met within the Office of the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo, which is the premier Medico-legal Institute in Sri Lanka, are analysed over a 3-year period and the morbidity and mortality rates of the entire country are examined over a 10-year period. The number of patients admitted to hospitals in Sri Lanka during the period 1975-1983, stood at around 11,000-15,000 each year, with the year 1983 recording 16,649 admissions. The number of deaths during the same period varied from 900 to 1500 each year, while the year 1983 recording 1521 deaths. About 75% of such cases of poisoning were due to self ingestion while accidental and occupational poisoning formed the balance. Principal agricultural districts like Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Nuwara-Eliya and Badulla recorded the highest incidence of poisoning. The mortality figures of the Office of the J.M.O., Colombo, indicated that 4% of all bodies subjected to autopsy were those of agrochemical poisoning. The male/female ratio was 2:1. Seventy-five percent of deaths from agrochemical poisoning were recorded in the 15-39 year age group, while 33% of deaths belonged to the 20-24 age group. One third of cases of agrochemical poisoning were dead on being brought to hospital, while 50% were dead within 2 h and 60% dead within 24 h. Organophosphates accounted for 57.6% of all cases of agrochemical poisoning, while paraquat accounted for 21.2% of cases. Deaths were also reported from what are called safe chemicals like Carbamates and Pyrethrums due to their lethal additives.