Laboratory Investigation of a Poisoning Epidemic in Sierra Leone

In June 1986, an epidemic of poisoning occurred in Sierra Leone, West Africa; it involved 49 persons—with 14 deaths. Our laboratory's approach and investigation of this incident is described. Using positive chemical ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of analytical toxicology 1990-07, Vol.14 (4), p.213-216
Main Authors: Hill, Robert H., Alley, Cynthia C., Ashley, David L., Cline, Richard E., Head, Susan L., Needham, Larry L., Etzel, Ruth A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Bread
Bread - poisoning
Chromatography, Gas
Communication
Communications
Cooperation
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemics
Flour
Food Contamination
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Medical sciences
Mortality
N.M.R
NMR
Parathion
Parathion - poisoning
Pesticides (organophosphorus)
Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology
Poisoning
Sierra Leone - epidemiology
Spectroscopy
Toxicants
Toxicology
Trucks
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Summary:In June 1986, an epidemic of poisoning occurred in Sierra Leone, West Africa; it involved 49 persons—with 14 deaths. Our laboratory's approach and investigation of this incident is described. Using positive chemical ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the toxicant was identified as parathion, a highly toxic organophosphorus pesticide. Analysis of various items supported the epidemiologic hypothesis that bread was made from contaminated flour and that the flour became contaminated with parathion during a truck shipment. Modern analytical instruments played a major role in this laboratory investigation and effected the identification of the unknown toxicant within hours of receiving the initial bread sample. Close cooperation and clear communication between the epidemiologic and laboratory teams were important in this investigation.
ISSN:0146-4760
1945-2403
DOI:10.1093/jat/14.4.213