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Observational Study
. 2015 Sep;94(38):e1637.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001637.

Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning-Related Deaths in Tehran, Iran, 2006 to 2013

Afshar Etemadi-Aleagha  1 , Maryam Akhgari, Fariba Sardari Iravani
Affiliations
Observational Study

Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning-Related Deaths in Tehran, Iran, 2006 to 2013

Afshar Etemadi-Aleagha et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Metal phosphides such as aluminum phosphide are potent insecticides. This highly toxic substance is used for rice and other grains protection in Iran. Due to its high toxicity potential and easy availability, it is widely used as a suicide poison. This substance has no effective antidote and the incidence of deaths due to its poisoning is increasing day by day in Iran. The present study was conducted to show the increasing incidence of fatal aluminum phosphide poisoning and its toxicological and forensic aspects in an 8-year study, 2006 to 2013. Autopsy sheets were reviewed and cases with the history of aluminum phosphide poisoning were selected. Toxicological analysis results, demographic and necroscopic examination findings were studied. A total of 51.8% of studied cases were female. Most of the cases were between 10 and 40 years old. The manner of death was self-poisoning in 85% of cases. Morphine, ethanol, and amitriptyline were the most common additional drugs detected in toxicological analysis. The incidence of fatal aluminum phosphide poisoning cases referred for phosphine analysis was 5.22 and 37.02 per million of population of Tehran in 2006 and 2013, respectively. The results of this study showed that in spite of ban and restrictions, there was a dramatic increase in the incidence of fatal aluminum phosphide poisoning in Tehran from 2006 to 2013. Safety alert should be highlighted in training program for all population groups about the toxic effects of aluminum phosphide tablets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Trend of the total referred cases for phosphine analysis, total number of positive phosphine tests in Tehran population in an 8-year study, Tehran, Iran, 2006 to 2013.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Age range distribution of fatal phosphine poisoning cases referred for phosphine analysis in Tehran, Iran in an 8-year study, Tehran, Iran, 2006 to 2013.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Trend of incidence of referred cases for phosphine analysis and positive phosphine tests in Tehran per 1 million of population in an 8-year study 2006 to 2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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