1971 Iraq poison grain disaster
1971 Iraq Poison Grain Disaster
The 1971 Iraq Poison Grain Disaster (pronunciation: 1971 eye-rack poy-zuhn grayn dih-zas-ter) was a significant public health event that occurred in Iraq in the year 1971.
Etymology
The term "1971 Iraq Poison Grain Disaster" is a descriptive name given to the event. It is derived from the year of occurrence (1971), the location (Iraq), and the nature of the event (Poison Grain Disaster).
Overview
The disaster was a result of the consumption of high levels of mercury-treated grain. The grain, intended for planting rather than human consumption, was imported from Mexico and the United States. The grain was dyed pink to indicate its toxicity, but due to a combination of factors including language barriers, illiteracy, and food shortages, it was consumed by the local population, leading to widespread mercury poisoning.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms of mercury poisoning can include sensory impairment, disturbed sensation and a lack of coordination. The diagnosis of mercury poisoning would typically involve a clinical examination, as well as testing samples of blood, urine or hair for evidence of the toxin.
Related Terms
- Mercury: A chemical element commonly used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lamps, and other devices. It is toxic and can cause mercury poisoning if ingested or inhaled.
- Mercury poisoning: A type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury. Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure.
- Toxicology: The study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. It is the study of symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning, especially the poisoning of people.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on 1971 Iraq poison grain disaster
- Wikipedia's article - 1971 Iraq poison grain disaster
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski