The purposes of the study were: to use hospital patient records to develop accurate and reliable data on the magnitude and character of hospital-admitted poisoning cases, and to develop for the first time nationwide incidence rates for hospitalized acute pesticide poisoning cases among those persons admitted to general-care hospitals. The study design omitted victims of undiagnosed pesticide poisoning, emergency-room patients who are not assigned a hospital bed, and patients treated by physicians outside the hospital environment. Acute poisonings by pesticides are a continuing problem in the United States. All pesticides are considered toxic and can cause illness or even death when misused. The toxicity of a pesticide, route of exposure, or formulation, as well as the age, sex, race, and physical and/or mental health status of the user may play an important role in resulting morbidity or mortality.

Chiefly tables. Includes bibliographical references (page 172).