Most cases of intentional pesticide poisoning appear to be impulsive acts undertaken during stressful events, and the availability of pesticides strongly influences the incidence of self poisoning. Pesticides are the agents most frequently used by farmers and students in India to commit suicide. Occupational
Pesticide poisoning is an important occupational health issue because pesticides are used in a large number of industries, which puts many different categories of workers at risk. Extensive use puts agricultural workers in particular at increased risk for pesticide illnesses. Exposure can occur through inhalation of pesticide fumes, and often occurs in settings including greenhouse spraying operations and other closed environments like tractor cabs or while operating rotary fan mist sprayers in facilities or locations with poor ventilation systems. Workers in other industries are at risk for exposure as well. For example, commercial availability of pesticides in stores puts retail workers at risk for exposure and illness when they handle pesticide products. The ubiquity of pesticides puts emergency responders such as fire-fighters and police officers at risk, because they are often the first responders to emergency events and may be unaware of the presence of a poisoning hazard. The process of aircraft disinsection, in which pesticides are used on inbound international flights for insect and disease control, can also make flight attendants sick.Different job functions can lead to different levels of exposure. Most occupational exposures are caused by absorption through exposed skin such as the face, hands, forearms, neck, and chest.
Okamoto syndrome (OS), also known as Au–Kline syndrome (AKS), is a very rare autosomal dominant genetic condition characterised by congenital hydronephrosis, low muscle tone, heart defects, intellectual disability and characteristic facial features. Those affected often have neurological and skeletal abnormalities, as well as frequent urinary tract infections. Language and walking are usually delayed. Facial features include prominent, downturned ears, an open, downturned mouth and drooping eyelids (ptosis).The syndrome is caused by mutations in the HNRNPK gene, which codes for heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K. This protein is involved in the process of DNA transcription and translation into proteins. A mutation in this gene impairs DNA transcription, disrupting some developmental processes. As an autosomal dominant disorder, only one faulty copy of the gene is required for the condition to occur. The syndrome is typically diagnosed based on the physical symptoms and then confirmed by genetic testing.Treatment has centred around the symptoms. Sign language and assistive language technology can aid communication. The prognosis is not yet fully known, due to the lack of patients in literature, however most of the patients have at least lived through childhood. The urinary system defects have been the most significant contributors to mortality. As of May 2019, 26 individuals worldwide were known to be affected. The syndrome was first described in 1997 by Nobuhiko Okamoto et al., and the gene responsible was first identified in 2015 by Ping-Yee Billie Au, Antonie D. Kline et al. In 2019, Okamoto proposed that Au–Kline syndrome and Okamoto syndrome were synonymous.