‘[Herald Economy=Reporter Park Romyeong] Police have launched an investigation after pesticide residues were detected in villagers who fell ill after sharing duck meat during the first half of the summer.’
‘According to the Gyeongbuk Police Agency on the 16th, pesticide residues were found on the bodies of three women in their 60s and 70s who suffered cardiac arrest and muscle stiffness after sharing duck meat at a restaurant in a village in Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk, the day before.’
‘Another woman who had dined with them at a table of five was also transferred to the Emergency Room of Andong Hospital on this day after her condition worsened while receiving treatment at a hospital in Bonghwa-gun.’
‘The common initial symptoms of these individuals were respiratory failure, drooling, and muscle rigidity, all of which are symptoms that appear when consuming a pesticide ingredient called organophosphate. Pesticides are chemicals that eliminate pests such as insects harmful to humans, livestock, and crops.’
‘The three hospitalized the day before were all unconscious, and the other woman hospitalized this day was said to be in an unresponsive state, according to the police.’
‘The medical staff at Andong Hospital sent gastric lavage fluid for precise examination to the National Forensic Service and confirmed the presence of organophosphate, a pesticide ingredient.’
‘Organophosphates are ingredients that cannot be detected in trace amounts mixed in food. In this situation, the hospital informed the families that “the ingestion of (a significant amount of) drugs is considered certain.’
‘In addition to organophosphates, they also identified organic chlorine drugs known as ‘endosulfan.’ This drug is said to naturally decompose in the body because there is no antidote.’
‘The medical staff have also submitted urine and blood samples to the National Institute of Environmental Research. Pesticides were not detected in the blood and urine, so they decided to reconfirm the results through retesting on this day.’
‘On the day of the incident, they were determined to have shared duck meat with the senior center members. Among the 41 members gathered at the scene, four victims were the ones who sat at the table of five.’
‘The police plan to conduct inquiries with members of the senior center and analyze closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to identify suspects. A police official said, “We are investigating the incident as someone deliberately putting pesticides in the food.”‘