Toxic Mushroom: The Culprit For The Sudden Deaths in China
Written by William Hushburn on Thursday, July 15th, 2010
-The deaths of 400 people in China were linked to the toxic mushroom.
Researchers found that the deaths known as Yunan Sudden Death Syndrome, occurred during rainy season from June-August.
Almost two-thirds of the victims experienced heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, seizures and fatigue before death, indications that the victims were poisoned.
For 30 years, during the rainy season, the villagers in Yunnan province have died suddenly of cardiac arrest.
Experts say that the mushroom known as Little White belongs to the Trogia genus and has three toxic amino acids.
Yunnan province is legendary for its wide variety of wild mushrooms, many of which are exported at high prices.
The scientists noted that in 2008 the Little White mushroom was often found in the houses where people had died. Families, who make their living by collecting and selling the fungi, eat the Little White as it has no commercial value.
A campaign to warn people against eating the tiny mushrooms has reduced the number of deaths. There have been no reported deaths so far this year.
However, further test has been conducted to find out why the mushroom is lethal. The study found out that that the mushrooms contained toxins but not deadly.
Robert Fontaine, epidemiologist suggested that the toxins could be acting together with high concentrations of a heavy metal in the local water.