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5 November 2026

17 Pages

Acute Pesticide Poisoning in Emergency Care: An Eight-Year Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Patterns and Outcomes

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1
Faculty of Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
2
Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine “Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu”—CEMEX, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700454 Iasi, Romania
3
Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
4
Emergency Care Department, “Sf. Spiridon” University Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
J. Xenobiotics2026, 16(7), 217;https://doi.org/10.3390/jox16070217 
(registering DOI)
This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in the Monitoring, Risk Assessment and Management of Pesticides and Biocides in the “One Health Era”—2nd Edition

Abstract

(1) Background: Pesticide poisoning is an inherent risk associated with the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture, and treatment largely depends on the type of pesticide involved. Thus, this retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical manifestation, symptoms associated, and treatment administered to patients with acute pesticide poisoning admitted to the Emergency Department of “Sf. Spiridon” Clinical Emergency Hospital in Iasi, Romania, and to investigate potential associations between pesticide type, clinical status and therapeutic management. (2) Methods: A sample of 46 patients presenting in the emergency unit with pesticide poisoning was assessed regarding clinical presentation and treatment received. (3) Results: Most poisoning cases were caused by insecticides (78.3%), followed by herbicides (21.7%). The predominant route of exposure was through ingestion (47.8%), followed by inhalation (21.7%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most frequent across all patients, while neurologic symptoms were frequent across the insecticide group. The median number of medications or procedures administered per patient was 3.0 in the insecticide group and 4.5 in the herbicide group. A non-significant trend toward more intensive treatment was observed in herbicide poisoning. Significant differences were found in the use of corticosteroids and calcium, with higher usage among herbicide patients. (4) Conclusions: These results reflect the heterogeneity of the clinical presentation depending on the pesticide, showcasing the need for individualised therapeutic approaches.

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