Toxics (Apr 2022)

Suicide by Pesticide (Phorate) Ingestion: Case Report and Review of Literature

  • Angela Simonelli,
  • Anna Carfora,
  • Pascale Basilicata,
  • Bruno Liguori,
  • Pasquale Mascolo,
  • Fabio Policino,
  • Massimo Niola,
  • Carlo Pietro Campobasso

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10050205
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 5
p. 205

Abstract

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It has been estimated that approximately one in seven of all global suicides is due to pesticide self-poisoning, mostly in rural areas of developing countries. Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are a group of pesticides exerting their toxicological effects through non-reversible inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Among these compounds, phorate (thimet) is one of the most dangerous compounds, the use of which is restricted in many countries. A case of intentional suicide after phorate ingestion in a 24-year-old Bengali male is described. This is the second case of suicidal ingestion of phorate reported in the forensic literature, and the first presenting complete toxicological findings.

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