Citation

Kamo H, Une H, Esaki H. Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 1997; 664-670.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997)

DOI

10.2185/jjrm.45.664

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Using the 1983-87 data on deaths from pesticide poisoning (in 1986, the fatalities hit an all-time high in Japan), we analysed the geographical differences in the rate of incidence in Fukuoka Prefecture by the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). The SMRs were compared with the controls of local health centers separately.<BR>The number of deaths from pesticide poisoning were 10, 753 (male: female ratio 3: 2) according to the vital statistics in Japan during the 5 years, and 81% of them was attiributed to suicide and 15% was to accidental exposure.<BR>Fukuoka Prefecture had 351 deaths (223 males and 128 females) from pesticide poisoning, most of them being at age 40 to 50.<BR>Seventy-one percent of the deaths from pesticide were suicide, and the percentage of suicide was higher in females (77%, 99/128) than in males (68%, 151/223).<BR>A study of the SMRs of pesticide poisoning showed that the rates are higher in rural areas (including the Chikugo district) than urban areas (including the Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City) both in males and females. A similar pattern was observed in the distribution of SMRs of suicide by pesticide.<BR>It was made clear that the higher the mortality from pesticide poisoning, the higher the rate of suicide by pesticide. The easy access to pesticides in rural areas may have contributed to the high incidence of suicide by pesticide. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for all users to exercise strict rigilance against the misuse of pesticides.

Language: ja