A total of 55 people rang the National Poisons Information Centre last year about being poisoned in agricultural workplaces, such as farms, the centre’s annual report has said.

These poisonings accounted for less than 1% of the 10,756 enquiries made to the centre last year.

Overall, agricultural products such as pesticides and herbicides accounted for 233 poisoning enquiries to the centre. This included products which were for sale to the general public.

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Enquiries about exposure to herbicides accounts for 38% of enquiries and 17.2% of these were weed-killer products containing glyphosate.

Some 30% of enquiries related to rodenticides, 25.8% related to insecticides and 6.4% related to pesticides.

Over 55% of calls (6,057) to the poisons centre last year were from members of the public enquiring about a poisoning incident. Thirty-three calls from veterinary practices were logged with the centre.

The centre has a dedicated number for members of the public that operates between 8am and 10pm every day for anyone with concerns about a potential poisoning.

The telephone number for the public poisons information line is 01-809 2166.