Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, on Friday ordered officials from ministries of commerce and agriculture to deal firmly with stores trading with poisonous pesticides. Prince Khaled's orders came a day after four Bangladeshi workers were hospitalized after inhaling deadly pesticide aluminum phosphate at an apartment in Jeddah. Prince Khaled's directive involved speedy submission of investigation results and adopting needed measures to define the source of the deadly substance and to guarantee withdrawal of such products from markets. The Emir also issued directives to the Civil Defense and the Health Department to create an awareness among people on the correct, safe way of using and storing pesticides. On Thursday, the four Bangladeshis called for an ambulance from a flat in Mushrifa District and were rushed to King Fahd Hospital, where they were diagnosed as suffering from toxemia, or blood poisoning. One man's condition was described by doctors as “serious but stable”, while the other three had suffered “mild toxemia” and were later discharged. Authorities confirmed that the lethal chemical was contained in the insecticide the men were using at the premises. This latest incident comes only weeks after two young Danish children died after being exposed to aluminum phosphate used by a licensed company at their residential compound. Authorities began withdrawing the deadly pesticide, which they say had caused 12 deaths in Jeddah in one year alone, on March 3, after the chemical had been on the market for over two years. Last week 18 insecticide experts met with the Jeddah Mayoralty to discuss and propose regulations for the elimination of insects and the use of insecticides, while authorities have stepped up their monitoring of insecticide companies following 12 deaths in Jeddah in one year alone. Authorities have also banned a number of other highly toxic insecticides which were freely available.
