Jatropha Curcas Seeds Can Kill

Jatropha Toxica, Picture Credit: Laaboratorioen Movimieto

As important as Jatropha Curcas oil has become as a biodiesel fuel, the plantations that are growing and developing Jatropha will have to have a safety protocol for Jatropha nuts and seeds. The one draw back or negative characteristic for Jatropha Curcas is the seeds are poisonous.

Unfortunately, deaths have occurred, especially in children that have eaten Jatropha seeds, usually by mistake thinking they were other nuts like cashews. Not only death, but serious illness has occurred when children have consumed Jatropha seeds.

In the past few weeks alone, five children have died from eating Jatropha seeds.

Lucknow, Nov 4 (IANS):

“Five children were killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnore district after eating Jatropha seeds, mistaking them for cashew nuts”, an official said Tuesday.

“The children, who were playing in the fields, probably mistook Jatropha seeds for cashew nuts and ate them,” chief medical officer S.P. Singh told IANS on phone.

The incident took place in Mandwar village of Bjinore district, over 250 km from Lucknow.

Read the Complete Story, Source: SindhToday.net