Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 1
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
At least 124 people in Iran's Tehran province have died as a result of poisoning with aluminum phosphide, known as rice tablets during the first half of current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21). Some 72 of the dead persons were women, Iran's Legal Medicine Organization reported Dec. 1.
Aluminum phosphide (ALP) is a cheap solid fumigant and a highly toxic pesticide. Some Iranian traders reportedly use the tablets for grain preservation.
The death number in 6-month period has not changed from the preceding year, meanwhile the figure during the sixth calendar month (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) decreased by 52.4 percent compared to the same month of last year and stood at 10 people.
While the use of the "Rice Tablets" is prohibited in Iran, 661 people died in Iran in the past Iranian year, which ended March 20, 2014.
Starting from 2008 to 2012, 1909 people died in Iran due to poisoning from the "Rice Tablet", the highest poisoning rate occurred in the 20-40 age range. Most cases were registered as suicides.
Iran banned import of "Rice Tablets" in 2005. But, in September 2012, it was reported that the "Rice Tablets" were being imported illegally.
Edited by CN