A professor of pharmacology at Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University said aluminium phosphide (or locally known as ‘rice tablet’), and carbon monoxide poisoning are the two top common causes of poisoning in the country. Dr. Hussein Vatanpour quoted by ISNA said that CO poisoning becomes especially more common with the arrival of cold weather in autumn and winter. He said ‘rice tablet’ is used to protect stored grain and since it’s used in enclosed areas, it can cause poisoning. Vatanpour said the tablet “is also taken intentionally for committing suicide.”
