Pesticide poisoning in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, 1992/2002

Reports of poisoning and suicide attempts involving pesticides in the micro region of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, from 1992 to 2002, were evaluated, using data from the Integrated Center for Toxicological Surveillance under the State Health Department. A total of 475 reports were made during the period, of which 261 were accidental or occupational poisonings, 203 suicide attempts, and 11 undetermined. Dourados county had the highest prevalence of pesticide poisoning and suicide attempts per 100,000 inhabitants, considering the rural population, and Fatima do Sul the second highest prevalence of suicides within the micro region. Significant correlations were found between poisoning and suicide (r = 0.60; p < 0.05) and between poisoning and temporary crop area as a percentage of the county's total area (r = 0.68; p < 0.05). Poisoning occurred predominantly in men (87.0%), but the percentage of suicide attempts by men and women were similar (53 and 47.0%, respectively). Poisonings occurred mostly from October to March and the organophosphate insecticides monocrotophos and methamidophos were the main pesticides involved.