Gunnell D, et al. - An appraisal was pursued of the effectiveness of pesticide regulation in reducing the incidence of pesticide suicides and overall suicides. It was deduced that national bans on highly hazardous pesticides, frequently known to be ingested in acts of self-poisoning, were probably effective in reducing pesticide-specific and overall suicide rates. With regard to the sales restrictions, evidence was less consistent. Hence, it was suggested that a worldwide ban on the use of highly hazardous pesticides could prevent tens of thousands of deaths every year.