TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of pesticide regulations on mortality from suicide by pesticide in China: an interrupted time series analysis
AU - Fan, Yongfu
AU - Jiang, Yingying
AU - Liu, Rong
AU - Eddleston, Michael
AU - Tao, Chuanjiang
AU - Page, Andrew
AU - Wang, Lijun
AU - Feng, Guoshuang
AU - Liu, Shiwei
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Beihang University and Capital Medical University Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine Plan [No. BHME-201901]. The Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention is funded by a grant from Open Philanthropy, at the recommendation of GiveWell, USA.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Yan, Jiang, Liu, Eddleston, Tao, Page, Wang, Feng and Liu.
PY - 2023/9/4
Y1 - 2023/9/4
N2 - Background: Pesticide bans and regulatory restrictions have been shown to be effective strategies for preventing suicide in several countries. Suicide and suicide by pesticide have decreased significantly in China over the past two decades. However, whether the reduction was associated with pesticide regulation is unknown.Methods: The monthly data on suicide and suicide by pesticide from 2006 to 2018 were obtained from China’s Disease Surveillance Points (DSPs) system. Information on China’s pesticide regulations since 1970 was reviewed from Pesticide Action Network International (PAN International), Joint Meeting on Pesticide Management Highly Hazardous Pesticides (JMPM HHP) lists, website of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Pesticide Information Network of China and Wan Fang database. Change point detection and policy analysis were combined to identify the time of any trend change breakpoint of suicide and suicide by pesticide Interrupted time series analysis was used to investigate the pre- and post- breakpoints trend of monthly standardized rates in suicide and suicide by pesticide.Results: The standardized suicide by pesticide rate decreased by 60.5% from 6.50 in 2006 to 2.56 per 100 000 in 2018. Larger declines were evident among people in urban areas (67.3%), females (63.5%), and aged 15-44 years (68.1%). The effect of policies banning highly hazardous organophosphorus pesticides (HHOP) (Rate ratio (RR)=0.993, 95% CI 0.991 to 0.994) in December 2008 and stopping domestic sales and use of paraquat aqueous solution (RR=0.992, 95% CI 0.990 to 0.994) in July 2016 were more pronounced than regulating the paraquat-related products (RR=1.003, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.004) in April 2012.Conclusion: Declines in suicide by pesticide in China occurred contemporaneously with regulatory bans and restrictions on several pesticides implemented, particularly in urban areas, among females, and the age relative low profile. These findings indicate the potential influence of these bans on trends in suicide by pesticides.
AB - Background: Pesticide bans and regulatory restrictions have been shown to be effective strategies for preventing suicide in several countries. Suicide and suicide by pesticide have decreased significantly in China over the past two decades. However, whether the reduction was associated with pesticide regulation is unknown.Methods: The monthly data on suicide and suicide by pesticide from 2006 to 2018 were obtained from China’s Disease Surveillance Points (DSPs) system. Information on China’s pesticide regulations since 1970 was reviewed from Pesticide Action Network International (PAN International), Joint Meeting on Pesticide Management Highly Hazardous Pesticides (JMPM HHP) lists, website of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Pesticide Information Network of China and Wan Fang database. Change point detection and policy analysis were combined to identify the time of any trend change breakpoint of suicide and suicide by pesticide Interrupted time series analysis was used to investigate the pre- and post- breakpoints trend of monthly standardized rates in suicide and suicide by pesticide.Results: The standardized suicide by pesticide rate decreased by 60.5% from 6.50 in 2006 to 2.56 per 100 000 in 2018. Larger declines were evident among people in urban areas (67.3%), females (63.5%), and aged 15-44 years (68.1%). The effect of policies banning highly hazardous organophosphorus pesticides (HHOP) (Rate ratio (RR)=0.993, 95% CI 0.991 to 0.994) in December 2008 and stopping domestic sales and use of paraquat aqueous solution (RR=0.992, 95% CI 0.990 to 0.994) in July 2016 were more pronounced than regulating the paraquat-related products (RR=1.003, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.004) in April 2012.Conclusion: Declines in suicide by pesticide in China occurred contemporaneously with regulatory bans and restrictions on several pesticides implemented, particularly in urban areas, among females, and the age relative low profile. These findings indicate the potential influence of these bans on trends in suicide by pesticides.
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1189923
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1189923
M3 - Article
SN - 1664-0640
JO - Frontiers in psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in psychiatry
ER -