ABSTRACT
Between 1 February and 31 March 2006, the Poison Control Centers (PPC) active in Lombardy collaborated with an integrated surveillance system carried out in Piedmont during the Olympic Games 2006. The collaborating PPC notified to the system 697 human cases of exposure occurred in Piedmont during the observation period. Among these cases, 70% were exposed accidentally, 40% were 6 years old or younger, and 45% reported at least a clinical effect. The agents more frequently reported were: cleaning substances (household) (110 cases), fumes/gases/vapors (63 cases, comprising 38 cases accidentally exposed to carbon monoxide), and sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics (53 cases). Although very limited, the available observations focused the attention on specific hazards and were able to highlight the potential of a toxic exposure surveillance system based on the information reported by the Italian PPC.
Subject(s)
Poison Control Centers/statistics & numerical data , Poisoning/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Agrochemicals/poisoning , Child , Child, Preschool , Cosmetics/poisoning , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Household Products/poisoning , Humans , Illicit Drugs/poisoning , Incidence , Infant , Italy/epidemiology , Pilot Projects , Play and Playthings , Population SurveillanceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Aim of the present study is to provide a preliminary description of agricultural pesticide-related poisonings in Italy. DESIGN: The study focuses on the cases with at least one sign or symptom due to exposure to agricultural pesticides occurred in 2000-2001 and referred to the Poison control centre of Milan, the Italian centre more frequently consulted nationwide. RESULTS: During the study period, 872 agricultural pesticide-related poisonings were identified. Most of the observed cases occurred in Sicily (n=199), Lombardy (n=100), Apulia (n=99), Veneto (n=75), Emilia-Romagna (n=67) and Campania (n=59). About 86% of the observed cases were unintentional and about 76% of them were men. Children aged 10 or less accounted for about 6% of the total. The poisonings occurred more frequently at home (about 38%) than at workplace (about 24%). The chemical classes of agents more frequently reported were: organophosphates (233 cases), copper and sulphur compounds (140 cases), carbamates (126 cases) and pyrethrins/pyrethroids (102 cases). The top six pesticides associated with poisonings were methomyl (97 cases), dimethoate (59 cases), copper sulfate (58 cases), glyphosate (53 cases), sulphur compounds other than copper sulfate (47 cases), and paraquat dichloride (41 cases). CONCLUSION: The data here presented provide an initial support to identify priorities for prevention in agricultural settings.
