Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 28 /Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
Deaths related to Aluminum phosphide (ALP) intoxication have increased in Iran in the first 9 months of the current Iranian year, Mehr reported.
Aluminum phosphide (ALP) is a highly effective insecticide and rodenticide used frequently to protect stored grain.
Acute poisoning with this hazardous substance is common in some countries including India and Iran, and is a serious health problem.
While the use of ALP is prohibited in Iran, in the first 9 months of the current Iranian year, 449 people died in Iran, 245 of them were men and 204 women.
Compared to the same period of last year, there were 354 people dead (198 males, 156 females), thus the increase of deaths amounted to 26.8 percent.
Tehran suffered the most, as province lost 185 people due to ALP intoxication, while Gilan province lost 69 people, Lorestan province - over 40 people, and Mazandaran 53 people.
Starting from 2008 to 2011, 1300 people died in Iran due to poisoning from the "rice tablet". 696 of those people were men, and 615 were females.