Fatal 3-Nitropropionic Acid Poisoning after Consuming Coconut Water
Thomas Birkelund
, Rakel F. Johansen, Dorte G. Illum, Stig Eric Dyrskog, Jakob A. Østergaard, Travis M. Falconer, Chris Andersen, Helena Fridholm, Søren Overballe-Petersen, and Jørgen S. Jensen
Author affiliations: Prehospital Emergency Medical Services, Central Denmark Region, Denmark (T. Birkelund); Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark (T. Birkelund, R.F. Johansen, D.G. Illum, S.E. Dyrskog, J.A. Østergaard); US Food and Drug Administration, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (T.M. Falconer); Aarhus University, Aarhus (C. Andersen); Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark (H. Fridholm, S. Overballe-Petersen, J.S. Jensen)
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Figure
Figure. The type of ecologically grown coconut involved in the case of a 69-year old Caucasian man in Aarhus, Denmark, who died of poisoning with 3-nitropropionic acid from coconut water spoiled with the fungus Arthrinium saccharicola. The coconut was commercially prepared, including removal of the husk, and was sold as ready-to-drink, with an included punch and straw for easy access to the carpels (holes) and the coconut water.
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