(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A newborn Syrian boy died and his sister is fighting for her life in hospital after inhaling pesticide gas in Al Nahda area in Sharjah. Parents of the children are also ill and admitted in the hospital.
The Sharjah Police said according to initial forensic investigation, the 21-day-old baby and his three-year-old sister inhaled phosphine gas which is banned in the county. The gas leaked through the window of their neighbour's apartment, who used the pesticide which he got from his friend and left the apartment.
The police said they received information at Al Buhairah Police Station from the operations room of the Dubai Police that the family was brought to Dubai Hospital after inhaling poisonous gas.
The police immediately rushed to the apartment of the family for investigation and found out that strong smell of the gas emanated from the neighbouring apartment. They also found a lot off dead insects inside both the apartments. The police summoned the tenant of the apartment and taken him into custody for further investigation. During interrogation, the tenant told the police that he brought the pesticide from his friend who advised him to use it as it would destroy all insects and its eggs permanently.
He said he was not aware of the danger of using the pesticide but left the apartment after closing it, based on the advice of his friend. He has been arrested for unintentionally causing the death of the newborn.
The police are continuing the investigation to find the source of the pesticide and arrest the person who sold it as it's banned in the country.
Col. Abdull Gadder Al Amri, Director of Forensic Laboratory of Sharjah Police, said that they collected sample from the apartment and tested it in the laboratory, which revealed it is aluminum phosphide which produce phosphine gas that leaks through openings.
The police also found the empty bottle of the pesticide left in the entrance of the building and children playing with it. This could have caused death and burns to these children and many others around the building.
Police warned the public not to use pesticide unprofessionally.
During the last year, several people lost their lives after inhaling illegally used pesticides by fake and unlicensed companies.
Police carried out awareness campaign to educate the people about the improper usage of pesticides and hiring of illegal companies that operate without licence.
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