Poisoning due to illegal use of carbamates as a rodenticide in Rio de Janeiro.

Carbamate insecticides (mainly aldicarb) are illegally commercialized as rat poisons and commonly used by the population of Rio de Janeiro for this purpose. A retrospective study concerning 189 cases (80 men, 109 women) of carbamate poisoning referred to the Poison Control Center of Rio de Janeiro throughout 1993 is described. The causes of carbamate poisoning were suicide attempts (65%) and accidental ingestions (35%). The main signs and symptoms found (86%) were those related to the SLUDGE syndrome (increased salivation, lacrimation, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, gastrointestinal cramping and emesis) which were more commonly seen in adults than in children. Despite treatment with atropine, the case-fatality was 4%. It is concluded that there is a widespread risk of carbamate poisoning in Rio de Janeiro due to its clandestine use as a rodenticide. Effective measures by the government authorities should be implemented to stamp out the illicit commercialization of these compounds.