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Paraquat used as a
catalyst to increase the percentage of alcohol distillated
in illicit brewing industry of Sri Lanka
R. Shavindra Dias
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. E-mail:
shavindra17@yahoo.co.uk
Accepted
29 March, 2010 |
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Illicit
brew contaminated with Paraquat, bipridyl non -selective
contact herbicide,
resulting in an epidemic of paraquat poisoning was
investigated in Sri Lanka. It was found that the brewers use
to hang the paraquat bottle with the lid pierced over the
distilling cocktail. Brewers believe that condensed
particles act as a catalyst, increasing the concentration
and quality of the distillate. Clinical data, biochemical
and histopathological data were used to confirm the poison.
In-depth interviews and group discussions were used to
elucidate the mechanism used by the illicit brewers. Due to
an accident the paraquat bottle had slipped into the
distilling cocktail resulting in this epidemic of paraquat
poisoning.
Key
words:
Paraquat, Illicit, brewers, cocktail. |
