title: [Characterization of pesticide exposures reported between 2006 and 2013 to a poison information center in Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pesticides are widely used to increase crop yields and vector control. However, both acute and chronic exposure have health consequences. There is paucity of information about the global occurrence of pesticide poisonings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the reports of pesticide exposures received by a University Poison Information Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  All pesticide exposures reported in Chile between 2006 and 2013 were analyzed. A data-collection sheet provided by the International Programme on Chemical Safety of the World Health Organization, was used to collect information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study period, 13,181 reports were analyzed. The main age groups exposed were preschoolers and adults. Sixty one percent of exposures occurred accidentally and 24.8% were suicide attempts. Exposures to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was reported in 29.3% of cases, to superwarfarin rodenticides in 28.5% and to pyrethroids in 24.0%. An increased risk of suicide attempts with pesticides was observed among women, when compared with men (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence intervals: 1.4-1.6; p < 0.001). The risk was higher among teenage girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amount of cases under acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor exposure, the most toxic pesticides currently in use should be highlighted. Workers should be educated and all cases should be reported to take actions aiming at reducing these events.
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: José Cristian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Plaza-Plaza
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mieres
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ríos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007253:Information Centers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010575:Pesticides