The global distribution of fatal pesticide self-poisoning: Systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evidence is accumulating that pesticide self-poisoning is one of the most commonly used methods of suicide worldwide, but the magnitude of the problem and the global distribution of these deaths is unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have systematically reviewed the worldwide literature to estimate the number of pesticide suicides in each of the World Health Organisation's six regions and the global burden of fatal self-poisoning with pesticides. We used the following data sources: Medline, EMBASE and psycINFO (1990–2007), papers cited in publications retrieved, the worldwide web (using Google) and our personal collections of papers and books. Our aim was to identify papers enabling us to estimate the proportion of a country's suicides due to pesticide self-poisoning.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We conservatively estimate that there are 258,234 (plausible range 233,997 to 325,907) deaths from pesticide self-poisoning worldwide each year, accounting for 30% (range 27% to 37%) of suicides globally. Official data from India probably underestimate the incidence of suicides; applying evidence-based corrections to India's official data, our estimate for world suicides using pesticides increases to 371,594 (range 347,357 to 439,267). The proportion of all suicides using pesticides varies from 4% in the European Region to over 50% in the Western Pacific Region but this proportion is not concordant with the volume of pesticides sold in each region; it is the pattern of pesticide use and the toxicity of the products, not the quantity used, that influences the likelihood they will be used in acts of fatal self-harm.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pesticide self-poisoning accounts for about one-third of the world's suicides. Epidemiological and toxicological data suggest that many of these deaths might be prevented if (a) the use of pesticides most toxic to humans was restricted, (b) pesticides could be safely stored in rural communities, and (c) the accessibility and quality of care for poisoning could be improved.</p

Potassium content of some Nigerian plant foods and effects of daily consumption on blood pressure and pressor responses in rats

The study set out to assay the potassium content of ten locally eaten plant foods and to determine the possible effects of daily consumption of the foods on blood pressure and pressor responses in rats. The potassium contents of nine fruits and carrot were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The two with the highest amounts of potassium were fed to rats at a dose 5 g/day for 28 days. Tap water (2 ml/day) and potassium citrate (25 mg/kg) for 28 days served as negative and positive controls respectively. Blood pressure and pressor responses to noradrenaline, verapamil and sodium nitroprusside were measured by invasive method. The potassium concentration varied in all the foods with carrot and plantain having the highest amount of potassium (0.42 &#177; 0.14 and 0.36 &#177; 0.10 % w/w respectively). Carrot, plantain and potassium citrate did not significantly lower blood pressure. The pressor responses to 10 &#956;g/kg noradrenaline were significantly attenuated in the carrot (P &lt; 0.02) and plantain (P &lt; 0.05) fed rats compared to controls. Also, carrot significantly (P &lt; 0.05) augmented blood pressure decreases to sodium nitroprusside and verapamil. The study shows that carrot and plantain may be helpful in preventing acute blood pressure increases while carrot may augment the antihypertensive effects of some drugs