The relationship between rice tablet consumption and pathological signs leading to death: a study in Tehran

Purpose: To investigate the effects of phosphide on some human biological systems in order to find a way to control it and facilitate the prevention and treatment of its poisoning. Materials and Methods: In this study, 67 files of autopsy description, forensic pathology results and forensic toxicology were studied as nominal qualitative variables in terms of each type of histological changes in the liver, heart, lungs, brain, cerebellum and other organs. Also, forensic toxicology results in terms of positive (positive phosphine) or negative silver nitrate test were studied. The achieved data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 software. Results: Using rice tablet leads to macroscopic and microscopic pathological changes in the liver. No significant relationship was found between the different effects created in the course of treatment with pathological changes in the liver, but there was a significant relationship between the average numbers of tablets used with pulmonary changes. No significant relationship was found between the different effects with pathological changes in brain and cerebellum. Among the deceased, 71.42% negative phosphine was reported whose different biological samples were tested by silver nitrate. Conclusion: Aluminum phosphide poisoning is a major problem which can result in severe damages to the internal organs and possibly death.