![]() Thus, the use of pesticides in Malaysia can give rise to many serious concerns. In a recent study, the serum pseudocholinesterase levels which was used as an indicator for exposure to the organophosphates, were found to be significantly lower in vegetable farmers this reduction being dependent upon the length of exposure to these pesticides. In yet another study conducted in a predominantly agricultural area in 1991, it was reported that 12.2% out of a total 264 cases treated in a teaching hospital were due to pesticides. Hospital admissions showed that 32.1% were accidental pesticide poisoning while the other were 67.9 % suicidal cases. Annually 230 million ringgit are spent on weedicides alone.Īnother survey showed that poisoning had occurred in 14.5% of the 4531 farmers growing vegetables, flowers and fruits in the Cameron Highlands. It has been estimated that about 73 per cent of poisonings involving paraquat are suicidal, compared with 14% due to accidents and 1% due to occupational exposure. Paraquat contributed 27.8%, other weedicides 1.7%, malathion 4.7%, other organophosphates 2.1%, organochlorines 2.6%, and other pesticides 1.4%. Over a 10 year period (1979-1988) pesticides accounted for 40.3% of the total cases (n=5,152) of human poisoning in Malaysia. For example, surveys carried out by the local agro-chemical industry showed that in 1987, most of the estimated 715,000 rubber and oil palm smallholder farmers used paraquat. Other aspects of control include the licensing of premises selling and storing for sale of pesticides, labelling of pesticides and the control of import of unregistered pesticides for research and educational purposes.īased on a number of limited studies, poisoning due to pesticides do occur. The main aspect of this Act is to control manufacture and import of pesticides through registration. The principal legislation for the control of pesticides in Malaysia is the Pesticides Act, 1974. In Peninsular Malaysia alone there are about 1.5 million hectares of rubber and 0.6 million hectares of oil palm plantations accommodating almost 4.3 million people. ![]() In Malaysia, being an agricultural-based country, the use of pesticides is relatively prevalent. However based on a survey of self-reported minor poisoning in four Asian countries, it was reported that each year 25 million agricultural workers in the Third World are exposed to pesticide poisoning. An estimate by the World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the annual number of severe poisonings at 3 million with about 220,000 deaths. Unlike the industrialised countries, the major threat from pesticides in many developing countries come from acute poisoning. Hiroshima survivor Abdul Razak dies at 88.WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Information.With an understanding of these concepts, you too, will be able to treat that secret agent who is trying to kill himself (or herself) before they reveal the secret plans. This is complicated by the lack of a readily available assay and the variability of available antidotes. The management of cyanide poisoning requires firstly the identification of patients who may be at risk of cyanide poisoning and the selection of antidotes. Hydroxocobalamin is widely used in Europe but only has limited availability in North America and Australia. ![]() ![]() In North America amyl nitrate pearls for inhalation can also used be used. In Australia dicobalt edetate IV, sodium nitrite IV and sodium thiosulfate are available. The availability of antidotes to cyanide poisoning varies around the world. Another source of cyanide includes the combustion of wool, silk, synthetic rubber and polyurethane. Deliberate contamination of medications and food has occurred recently. Suicides are the commonest cause of cyanide poisoning. Industries that use cyanide include metal extraction and refining, electroplating, photography and fumigation. It is important to know the unique mechanism of action of this poison as delay in treatment can have disastrous consequences to the patient. It is used in many chemical compounds including medications and can be found endogenously in plant and bacteria. Its toxicity was soon discovered by Scheele who, upon breaking the flask of his newly found fluid, was killed by the resulting vapours.Ĭyanide is a rapidly toxic agent that is found in liquid and gaseous form. Hydrogen cyanide was not isolated in a pure form until 1786 when Scheele extracted it from the dye Prussian blue.
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