A prospective autopsy study addressing fatal
poisoning with agricultural and horticultural pesticides was undertaken in Jordan over a 4 year period. A total number of 140 deaths occurred during 1999-2002. The mean fatality rate was 0.68 case per 100,000 population and the age range was 2-55 years; mean 28.3 years with male to female ratio 1.03. The largest number of cases occurred in those 20-29 years (n=69, 49.3%) followed by the age group 30-39 years (n=34, 24.3%) and 40-49 years (n=17, 12.1%). Less than 3.0% of the total fatal
poisoning was noticed in both children younger than 9 years of age and those in the age group 50-59 years, with no fatal
poisoning in adults at the age 60 years and above. At least 64.3% of all
pesticide fatalities were due to suicide with male: female ratio (1.37:1). Accidental and homicide
poisoning resulted in 24.3% and 7.9% of the total fatalities, respectively; however, only five cases 3.6% of fatal
poisoning were due to unknown pesticides. The main
pesticide used was
carbamates with 110 cases 78.6% followed by organophosphorus 23 cases 16.4%. The study showed that the present legislation on pesticides availability in Jordan failed to reduce the number of fatal pesticides
poisoning since the number of fatal pesticides
poisoning was increased from 25.3 to 35 cases per year over a 20 years period. Enforcement of a new legislation addressing the availability of agricultural and horticultural pesticides for self-harm, especially
carbamates and organophosphorus, is the most important strategy in the long term to prevent fatal pesticides
poisoning in Jordan.