In Iran forensics announced the number of deaths caused by illnesses from aluminum phosphide tablets used in rice fields have reached 191 counts in the past three months alone, including 79 women and 112 men. This is a 13% increase from the spring of 2013.
This report, issued by the Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Fars news agency, says the number of deaths caused by these tablets have been 661 cases, with most deaths taking place in Tehran, Mazandaran and Gilan provinces.
Aluminum phosphide tablets, known as ‘rice tablets’ in Iran, are very toxic substance and just 15 grams of it causes death. This chemical substance is usually used to protect rice fields from pesticides in warehouses or in rice bags in homes.