The most common route of pesticide exposure was by ingestion followed by dermal exposure and inhalation. Sweating, slow pulse, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and respiratory difficulties were the most common clinical signs and symptoms. In all ingestions, gastric lavage was usually performed as the first procedure in hospital management, while ipecac syrup was never employed.
Organophosphates are the main cause of pesticide poisoning and pesticide-related deaths in Iran.
It has been estimated that around three million severe cases of acute pesticide poisoning occur each year with some 220,000 deaths. Ninety-five percent of fatal pesticide poisonings occur in developing countries. There is a diversity of farming operations in Iran with more than 500 different pesticide compounds available for agricultural use. In our previous study it was indicated that pesticides are the third most common cause of poisoning and the principal cause of poisoning-related mortality in Iran. There is also evidence of chronic occupational exposure to pesticides in pesticide manufacturing factories as well as instances of acute toxicity.