• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.541-549
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to examine patients who developed acute pesticide poisoning while spraying or using pesticide and presented to the emergency department in hospitals in Chungcheongnam-do Province. Based on the findings, this study will provide implications for safety and health management pertaining to the use of pesticides. Methods: Pesticide poisoning data collected by the Chungnam Center for Farmers' Safety and Health from 2014 to 2018 was cross-sectionally analyzed. A total of 331 patients with pesticide poisoning presented to one of hospitals and four of medical centers in the region(Dankuk University Hospital, Gongju and Hongsung, Cheongyang, Cheonan Medical Center). Seventeen of these patients (15 men and two women) developed poisoning while spraying pesticide. The patients' charts were reviewed to collect data on pesticide poisoning, namely currently working in farming-related occupation, means of transportation to the hospital, place of poisoning, symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning, treatment, pesticide used when poisoning occurred, and classification by technical ingredients. Results: Fifteen out of 17 patients who developed poisoning while spraying pesticide were men. Insecticide was used in 35.3% of the cases, and herbicide was used in 29.4% of the cases, which was different from cases of poisoning from ingestion poisoning. The major symptoms were vomiting (35.3%), nausea (29.4%), dizziness (29.4%), and headache (23.5%). A total 11 ingredients were identified in 12 patients, and the most common ingredient was glyphosate, which is an herbicide. Most patients showed a state of mild toxicity, but two patients showed a state of severe toxicity. These patients respectively used glyphosate and paraquat. Conclusions: Our findings can be useful for suggesting the need for a national healthcare system to manage occupational pesticide poisoning among farmers. Further, these findings can be used to increase the awareness of the risk of acute poisoning during pesticide spraying and suggest the need for a safety health education to increase farmers' awareness of pesticide poisoning.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2011

This study aimed to determine the feasibility of survey questionnaires for pesticide poisoning. We conducted a pilot study to develop a questionnaire for evaluating pesticide poisoning symptoms and to examine the validity of self-reported information for individual pesticides used. In December 2010 we interviewed 20 farmers with self-reported pesticide poisoning histories residing in Gyeonggi Province. For validity of pesticide information, the purchased pesticide lists from the agricultural cooperative federation were compared with individual self-reported pesticides used. Neurological symptoms were the most common among clinical symptoms related to pesticide poisoning, followed by gastrointestinal, dermal and eye symptoms. Insecticides were the main causative pesticide class for poisoning. Twenty one major symptoms were selected for screening for acute pesticide poisoning in a field study based on the pilot results and literature reviews. Substantial under-reporting was found in data on self-reported individual pesticides used (9.2%), as well as low accuracy (36%) compared with their actual purchase lists. In this pilot study, we suggest the selected symptom lists may apply to a field survey of pesticide poisoning. However, the self-reported information on individual pesticides may not be valid and alternative methods need to be developed.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2008

The data on pesticide poisoning death toll during 2000-2005 was obtained from Korean National Statistical Office and analysed to find out any precautionary measures against pesticide poisonings. Pesticide poisoning death toll showed slightly increasing trend with year up to about 3500 in 2005. Most of the pesticide poisoning death cases were intentional self-poisoning accounting for more than 80% of total pesticide poisoning death. The pesticide most often implicated in poisoning death were paraquat dichloride, a non-selective herbicide and organophosphate/carbamate insecticides. The regional distribution of pesticide poisoning death showed urban 21.6% and rural area 78.4%. As for the occupation of the dead, agricultural, forestry and fishery workers accounted for 27.4% and non-agricultural workers was 72.6% of pesticide poisoning death. Therefore, government need to take some precautionary measures to reduce the number of pesticide poisoning cases. It is strongly recommended that pesticide regulatory authorities encourage and train the agricultural workers to use safe storage boxes and enforce strict regulation for the prevention for the prevention of highly toxic pesticides sales to non-agricultural workers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

Purpose: Hemoperfusion is an effective modality of extracorporeal elimination of toxins in acutely poisoned patients. We evaluated the effect of hemoperfusion on plasma concentration of toxins in patients exposed to certain pesticides. Methods: Eleven patients who were acutely exposed to pesticides participated in our study. We measured plasma pesticide concentration from the whole blood obtained by arterial and venous sources by gas chromatography. Results: The plasma concentrations of only 3 patients was measured. Methidation clearance by hemoperfusion was 82.2%, fenitrothion was 23%, and endosulfan was 0% Conclusion: Measurement of plasma organophosphate concentration is not a practical application. Our results suggest that hemoperfusion is applicable in patients with pesticide intoxication according to clinical status.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2020

Acute respiratory failure is an important risk factor for mortality in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the risk factors to predict respiratory failure in these patients. This study retrospectively investigated the clinical features of respiratory failure among patients with acute pesticide poisoning requiring mechanical ventilation. This study included patients who were admitted with intentional poisoning by pesticide ingestion from January 2017 to December 2019. Paraquat intoxication was excluded. Among 469 patients with acute pesticide poisoning, 398 patients were enrolled in this study. The respiratory failure rate was 30.4%. The rate of respiratory failure according to the type of pesticide was carbamate (75.0%), organophosphate (52.6%), glufosinate (52.1%), glyphosate (23%), pyrethroid (8.9%), and others (17%). The mortality was 25.6% in the respiratory failure group. The risk factors for respiratory failure were old age, low body mass index, and ingestion of more than 300 mL. In conclusion, respiratory failure is a risk factor for mortality in pesticide poisoning. Old age, low body mass index, and ingestion of more than 300 mL are the risk factors for predicting respiratory failure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 1986

In order to offer an basic data for the prevention of pesticide poisoning this study was carried out at Chun Song County, Kang Won Province for the period from 1983 to 1985. The major results are as follows: 1. The rates of those who read an explanation of pesticidesbefore scattering are 76.5% in 1983, 82.6% in 1984, 85.8 % in 1985 but among these people the rates of those who practice as explanation are 78.2%, 72.2%, 41.4% every year. 2. More than 50% of those who scatter pesticides feel pesticide poisoning. 3. The difference in average time of pesticide scattering and pesticide poisoning reveals statistical significance (P < 0.05). 4. Among those who feel pesticide poisoning, 85.5% in 1984, 87.3% in 1985 are due to insecticides.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1983

In spite of the world-wide increase of incidence of pesticide poisoning due to greater use of pesticides, the epidemiological study of pesticide poisoning in Korea has been grossly neglected. The author gained access to the medical records for two year period (1981 through 1982) from local clinics, hospitals and health centers of Kyungpook area to investigate the status of the pesticide poisoning. During these two years, there were 1,618 cases of documented pesticide poisoning, of which in 1981 were 765 and in 1982 were 853. Those in the twenties decade of age was the most frequent and the male(70%) was more liable than the female (30%). In view of manner of poisoning, occupational poisoning was 27.8%, accidental 5.6%, and suicidal 66.6%. There are three distinct groups which make up the large majority of both fatal and nonfatal cases; young children who accidentally ingest pesticides, young to middle age adult who are occupationally poisoned, and middle age to older adults who suicidally ingest pesticides. The seasonal distribution of these poisonings disclosed the peak month to be July, with August next, followed by June and September. Only 11% of cases occurred during the three-month winter season of December to February. Thus pesticide caused poison- ing was primarily a summer and early fall occurrence. During these two years, average of 67 cases of poisoning was observed monthly. Of the pesticide poisoning documented, 49% were treated with poisoning patients from local clinic and 43% from hospital. The case fatality rate of occupational poisoning was 0.9%, accidental 5.6% and suicidal 20.3%. The mean overall case fatality rate was 14.1%. Annual incidence of pesticide poisoning was 25.4 per 100,000 population in the study area. There is a nationwide need for more reliable date on pesticide poisoning. This need can only grow more acute with the passage of time because of the increasing importance of pesticides as a cause of morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2004

Purpose: Paraquat is the most commonly used herbicide in Korea. Exposure to paraquat through the skin has resulted in local irritation or inflammation of varying degree, sometimes severe. The purpose of this study was to review the patients with paraquat poisoning by skin absorption. Methods: We analysed retrospectively the clinical and laboratory findings of 45 patients with paraquat poisoning after dermal exposure, who were admitted to Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital from January 1999 to December 2003. Results: Among 870 cases of paraquat poisoning, 45 cases were exposed to paraquat through the skin. The peak incidence was the fifth decade($40\%$). The clinical symptoms were pain, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting. The major skin lesions were generalized vesicobullae and necrotic erosion in face, scrotum, trunk, upper and lower extremities and etc. All patients were survived after skin contact or inhalation of paraquat. Conclusion: This study illustrates the extreme toxicity of paraquat and demonstrates that lethal quantities of paraquat may be absorbed if repeated exposure to it. Stricter precautions, including the mandatory use of protective clothing, should be recommended whenever this material is used.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 1976

It has been well known that indiscriminative use of pesticides contaminates water resources and soil to break down the balance of natural ecosystem and brings acute when spray. In this country, 62,602 tons of pesticides were used in 1974 for agricultural purpose figuring 28.0 kg per hectare which showed 20% increasement every year since 1970. It is almost impossible to figure out incidence and mortality of acute pesticide poisoning exactly. However, a survey in 1974 reported that 33.5% of male and 32.7% of female who sprayed certain pesticides complained of several symptoms seemed to be due to acute pesticide poisoning. It also mentioned that the main cause inducing poisoning supposedly was dusting without protective armamation such as masks, booths, gloves and others in more than 60% of above cases. Pesticide poisoning through contamination of food or direct inhalation and contact. With the reason, the followings can be recommended to minimize or prevent pesticide hazards. 1. Strict legal control 2. Systematic education on the safe handling way of pesticides for the people who are to use them. 3. Remarkable warning at transportation and stocking of pesticides. 4. Obligatory attachment of explanation on the package about effect, safe handling method, and. emergency care at acute pesticide poisoning concerned.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2022

Purpose: Acute pesticide poisoning is lethal and can lead to death. A few studies about the effects of acute pesticide poisoning have focused on the immune system. In the current study, we preliminarily investigated the changes in blood inflammatory cytokine levels in acute pesticide poisoning patients. Methods: In this study, we prospectively investigated the inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. This study included patients admitted from February 2021 to November 2021 with a diagnosis of intentional poisoning by pesticide ingestion. The inflammatory cytokines measured were IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Results: Totally, 27 patients were enrolled in this study. The types of pesticide ingested were glufosinate (n=6), glyphosate (n=8), organophosphate (n=4), pyrethroid (n=2), and others (n=7). The levels of inflammatory cytokines obtained were as follows: IFN-γ 2.78±8.03 pg/ml, IL-1β 2.62±2.03 pg/ml, IL-6 44.58±80.16 pg/ml, and TNF-α 11.80±15.60 pg/ml. The overall mortality rate was 11.1% (3/27), and levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in the death group compared to the survival group. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were observed in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in the death group as compared to the survival group. Our results indicate the occurrence of an inflammatory response due to the activation of immune cells by pesticide poisoning. Future large-scale studies need to be conducted to investigate the application of inflammatory cytokines as predictors and therapeutic targets.