Pesticide mortality in the United States 1979-1998.

Pesticide mortality in the US is usualy reported on a case-by-case basis. The Vital Statistics of the US and the publications of the American Association of Poison Control Centers publish yeary statistics on pesticide mortality. This review evaluates the incidence of pesticide mortality in regard to intent, geography, sex, race, age and trends from theyears 1979-1998. In this fashion it appeared easier to identify likely areas of exposures and to develop steps to reduce mortality. Pesticide mortality has decreased substantially over the last 20 y. Intentional poisonings, primarily suicides, represent the greatest fraction and are decreasing more slowy than accidental poisonings. Mortality is thus following intentional exposure rather than accidental exposure. Intentional exposures may occur away from sites where pesticide use is expected.