Nagpur: A survey on cases of pesticide poisoning by the Government Medical College (GMC) at Akola shows that 62% of patients admitted there had been spraying the toxic chemicals without any safety gear.So far, more than 300 patients have been treated for pesticide inhalation in various major government hospitals of the region.Last year, 62 people died of accidental inhalation of pesticides in the state with many taking ill. This led to a major awareness campaign by agriculture department on safe usage of pesticides. Safety kits running into thousands have been provided in the hinterland.However, statistics compiled in Akola for the patents admitted between July and August show a different picture. The hospital received 194 cases of pesticide poisoning during the period of which 62% were found to be spraying without any safety gear.The rest who fell ill had nothing but a scarf wound around their faces in the name of safety kit. A source involved in data compilation said none of the patients had worn gloves or goggles, which are included in the prescribed safety gear.With 194 patients of pesticide poisoning reaching Akola GMC, the numbers here have surpassed that in Yavatmal which had seen the highest toll last year.Apart from this, the survey found that 40% of the patients had mixed different pesticides which increases toxicity. Following the deaths, there was special emphasis on advising the farmers against mixing of different pesticides. The persons engaged in spraying were found to be covering as much as 3 to 7 acres in a day, which amounts to stretching beyond the normal limits.TOI talked to officials concerned at government medical colleges in Akola, Yavatmal, Gondia and Chandrapur and found that majority of the cases were in Akola and Yavatmal, which were also the hot spots last year. Around six persons were admitted to Chandrapur GMC too. This takes the total number of patients to 327.Doctors at Yavatmal GMC, where so far 128 patients have been admitted, said nearly 90% of them are expected to be spraying without safety gear. Majority of them had also mixed the chemicals. The GMC at Yavtmal has also received patients from neighbouring Washim and Nanded districts.Around 15 patients have come from Nanded and 5-6 from Washim. A source said that the condition of patients from the two districts was worse as compared to those from Yavatmal. This is probably because Yavatmal got all the attention after last year’s deaths and other areas were neglected.Majority of the persons were spraying pesticides on the cotton crop. The chemical commonly used by the patients were monoctrotophos and profefonos.

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