N. Kurdil¹, H. Balan¹, A. Basanets¹, M. Kalysh², O. Ivashchenko³, O. Kharchenko¹

¹L.I. Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety, Ministry of Health, Ukraine (State Enterprise), Kyiv, Ukraine

²Communal Non-Profit Enterprise "Kyiv City Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medical Care", Toxicology Department, Kyiv, Ukraine

³National University of Health Care of Ukraine named after P.L. Shupyk, Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.

RESUME. In recent years, the range of pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, etc.) available for free sale on the Ukrainian market has expanded significantly. Poisonings caused by new generations of pesticides are of particular interest to toxicologists, as the diagnostic and treatment methods for such cases — especially those involving synthetic pyrethroids and neonicotinoids — remain poorly studied. Most scientific publications on this issue are limited to clinical descriptions of isolated severe cases.

Aim. To analyze the structure of pesticides responsible for acute poisonings among the adult population of Kyiv during the period 1993–2022.

Materials and Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 278 cases of acute household pesticide poisoning among adults (including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and rodenticides) who were treated at the Toxicology Department of the Kyiv City Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medical Care.

Results. Over the 30-year period, 75.2 % of severe poisonings associated with impaired vital functions and requiring prolonged intensive care were caused by organophosphorus compounds (209 cases in total). The average incidence of death in this group was 21 %, with a hospital mortality rate of 7.6 %. Among other pesticides, insecticides accounted for 14.4 % (40 cases), fungicides for 4.3 % (12 cases), rodenticides for 3.2 % (9 cases), and herbicides for 2.9 % (8 cases); no deaths were recorded in these groups. The total number of pesticide poisonings has decreased markedly over time, and no fatal cases have been reported since 2018.

Conclusions. Although pesticides outside the organophosphorus group (such as neonicotinoids and pyrethroids) generally exhibit low human toxicity, acute poisonings in some cases still require intensive medical care. Ongoing monitoring and systematic analysis of poisoning cases are essential for improving diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and preventive measures.

Keywords: pesticides, acute poisoning, organophosphate compounds, carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids.

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Стаття надійшла до редакції 29 вересня 2025 р.

The article has been submitted to the editorial office on September 29, 2025.