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. 2007 Dec;36(6):1235-42.
doi: 10.1093/ije/dym164. Epub 2007 Aug 27.

The impact of pesticide regulations on suicide in Sri Lanka

D Gunnell  1 , R Fernando, M Hewagama, W D D Priyangika, F Konradsen, M Eddleston
Affiliations

The impact of pesticide regulations on suicide in Sri Lanka

D Gunnell et al. Int J Epidemiol. 2007 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Between 1950 and 1995 suicide rates in Sri Lanka increased 8-fold to a peak of 47 per 100,000 in 1995. By 2005, rates had halved. We investigated whether Sri Lanka's regulatory controls on the import and sale of pesticides that are particularly toxic to humans were responsible for these changes in the incidence of suicide.

Methods: Ecological analysis using graphical and descriptive approaches to identify time trends in suicide and risk factors for suicide in Sri Lanka, 1975-2005.

Results: Restrictions on the import and sales of WHO Class I toxicity pesticides in 1995 and endosulfan in 1998, coincided with reductions in suicide in both men and women of all ages. 19,769 fewer suicides occurred in 1996-2005 as compared with 1986-95. Secular trends in unemployment, alcohol misuse, divorce, pesticide use and the years associated with Sri Lanka's Civil war did not appear to be associated with these declines.

Conclusion: These data indicate that in countries where pesticides are commonly used in acts of self-poisoning, import controls on the most toxic pesticides may have a favourable impact on suicide. In Asia, there are an estimated 300,000 deaths from pesticide self-poisoning annually. National and international policies restricting the sale of pesticides that are most toxic to humans may have a major impact on suicides in the region.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Suicide rates in Sri Lanka 1940-2005
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends in suicides specified as poisoning, other specified methods and other non-specified methods
Figure 3
Figure 3
Age standardised suicide rates for males and females, Sri Lanka 1975-2005
Figure 4
Figure 4
method specific suicide rates: Sri Lanka 1975-2005
Figure 5
Figure 5
In-hospital mortality from pesticide poisoning: rate per 100,000 population 1975-2005
Figure 6
Figure 6
Unemployment in Sri Lanka 1971-2005
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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