Agricultural poisonings, particularly those due to pesticides, are a large problem in the developing world. A study of all poisoning patients admitted to hospital in a cotton growing area of Pakistan 1996–2000 reveals that the majority of the victims were from the farming community and were exposed primarily to pesticides. The authors were able to document a sixfold increase in incidence from 1992, although they also found a decline in the year 2000, perhaps due to the introduction of some safer products. Finally, disparities were seen between males (50% suicide, 38% occupational) and females (80% suicide, 15% occupational). (

; www.pulsepakistan.com/pakjmedsciences/julsep02/article8.html.)

If an intervention is not implemented, can it possibly make a difference? Smoke alarms, fittings, and educational brochures were given to low income, multiethnic Londoners in a program similar, but not identical, to a widely reported Oklahoma City campaign. The results were far different with 50% of alarms not installed or operational at two year follow up, raising concerns that measures that require active steps, such as installation, are limited in their effectiveness. Injuries related to fire did …