DISASTER REPORT
‘Thousands poisoned 9 (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) STOCKHOLM, Mar. 8. Thousands of people in Iraq, starving from last year’s drought, have died after eating mercury-impregnated seed intended for sowing, according to a Swedish scientist. Dr Hans Palmstiema said in Stockholm yesterday that information about the disaster was scant because the authorities in Iraq were keeping quiet about it. The poor Iraqis used large amounts of the imported seed for food when the drought made it impossible to sow the fields, Dr Palmstiema said.
When reports of mercury poisoning came to light, the Iraq authorities tried to stop distribution of the seed, but it was too late.
The Swedish radio reported today that the Iraq Embassy in Stockholm had confirmed that mercury poisoning had occurred, but it declined to give any estimate of the number of victims.
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Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 15
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137DISASTER REPORT Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 15
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