The evaluation of the threat of acute chemical compound poisonings among the adult inhabitants of Kraków in the years 1983 and 1993.

The aim of this study is to compare the frequency, kind and structure of acute poisonings of the Kraków residents in years 1983 and 1993. The group of 2132 people treated for acute poisonings in the year of 1983 consisted of 50.6% men and 49.4% women, in 1993 the group of 2311 patients consisted of 60.7% men and 39.3% women. The group of 154 poisoned who died at the place of accident in 1983 consisted of 89.6% men and 10.4% women, whereas in 1993 the group of 220 such cases included 83% men and 17% women. The overall coefficient of poisonings during the years compared was 36.2 for 1983 and 42.0 for 1993. The coefficient of poisonings in the years examined of 1983, 1993 were 39.4 and 50.4 for men, and respectively 33.4 and 28.0 for women. In 1983 the poisonings with drugs (40.6%) were most numerous, ethanol came second (25%). In 1993 the first place took ethanol (31.8%), the second drugs (31.3%). The number of poisonings with carbon monoxide increased from 9.87% in 1983 to 13.6% in 1993. The comparison of numbers concerning the mortality rate of the treated patients and of those who died at the place of accident prior to any treatment, shows a considerable growth in mortality rate in 1983 from 1.1% up to 7.8% and in 1993 from 0.8% to 9.4%. Such a significant growth in this mortality rate is influenced by poisoning with ethanol and carbon monoxide at the place of accident.