Pesticide kills two Filipinos in UAE
Staff Report
DUBAI - Authorities have reiterated public caution against the use of dangerous pesticides following the deaths of two Filipinos in Dubai.
A three-year-old-girl—one of five people treated for pesticide poisoning at Zulekha Hospital in Al Nahda—died on Thursday, weeks after the toxic substance leaked into their apartment and first killed a Filipino on July 28. Their neighbor used the pesticide phosphine in his home.
"One of the tenants left cylinders containing the gas not properly sealed in his apartment. The gas leaked…” Khalid Al Awadhi, director of food control at Dubai Municipality, had told the media.
Al Awadhi said police interrogated the apartment owner who told them that he used five containers of aluminium phosphine before closing down his apartment and heading to Hatta for a holiday. Civil Defence evacuated the building while health and safety inspectors operated the ventilation to lower toxic gas levels in the air.
Phosphine is banned from use without the approval and authorisation of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Pest control professionals say the chemical is toxic and just breathing the gas can be poisonous.
The pesticide tablet releases toxins in gas form and is not allowed for use in residential areas in Dubai. Only licensed pest control companies are allowed to use it in industrial areas.
Hisham Abdulrahman Al-Yahya, head of the pest control section at the Dubai Municipality, urged the public to report any illegal pest control practices by calling the Dubai Municipality hotline on 800900.
He also advised the public to avoid self-use of pesticides and depend on licensed companies by the Dubai Municipality. Check the list of approved pest control companies.
