[Experience of the Toxicology Information Center in Prague with pesticides].

The Toxicological Information Centre replied in 1988 and 1989 some 5500 inquiries. This number comprised 5-7% concerning treatment of acute intoxications with pesticides. More than half of them concerned children who ingested pesticides. In adults in half of inquiries possible intoxication after ingestion was involved, in half intoxication was a result of inhalation or percutaneous intoxication. 10.5% and 12.5% of the inquiries concerning pesticide intoxications in adults were attempted suicide. The number of inquiries regarding occupational diseases during spraying was small (some 5 and 3 cases). The inquiries were divided by groups of pesticides into herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides and others. From the analysis ensued that children were intoxicated most frequently by preparations against harmful animals (rodenticides, insecticides), in particular rodents and ants. In adults the stratification of intoxications into groups was less marked.