Citation

Tamilmani K, Udhayabanu R, Manivasagam M. Journal of South India Medicolegal Association 2018; 10(1): 23-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Rat killer poisoning has been emerging as one of the important and common cause of intentional self harm in and around Thanjavur district. It has potent chemical substances like zinc phosphide, yellow phosphorus, thallium sulfate, bromodiolone and other chemicals, which vary depending upon the brand. These chemical substances can produce hypotension, hepatic failure, renal failure, metabolic acidosis, coagulation disorder and other clinical features. This paper aims to point to the increasing prevalence of committing suicide by rat killer poison in and around Thanjavur district. More than one lakh lives are lost every year due to suicide in India. The suicide rate in India is 10.3% of all deaths in the last three decades. The suicide rate has increased by 43% in India. Pesticide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death. Among pesticides, the rodenticide is the leading cause of death in and around Thanjavur district. Mainly the rat killer paste has high mortality and it is one of the important suicidal etiological factor. Mostly the victims are adults. © 2018 South India Medico-Legal Association. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Zinc phosphide; Hepatic failure; Rat killer; Yellow phosphorus