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Mystery deepens in the deaths of four people. Investigators rule out the initial hypothesis of food poisoning and point to disinfection against bedbugs in a hotel as the main suspect.
Turkish police are investigating the deaths of a German-Turkish family of four, who were on holiday in Istanbul when the worst-case scenario unfolded.
The family, who had traveled from Hamburg, Germany, fell ill on November 12, after a day of visiting one of the city’s main tourist attractions and eating street food. Initially treated as a simple case of food poisoning, the family was discharged from hospitalbut returned later with worsening symptoms.
The two children, aged 6 and 3, died on Thursday and the mother, aged 27, died the following day. On Monday, it was his father’s turn to die in the hospital.
Istanbul authorities opened an investigation which, initially, focused on suspected food poisoning. Several people linked to food vendors frequented by the family were arrested. Now, however, the Food poisoning is no longer considered the likely cause of deaths.
Hotel pesticides?
However, evidence has emerged that the family may have been exposed to pesticides in the hotel where they were staying, the Turkish press reported. The new suspicion has once again brought into focus the use of pesticides that release phosphinefollowing several similar incidents in Türkiye and other countries.
The Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet published the preliminary results of forensic analyzes carried out on samples taken from the bodies of the mother and two children. The investigation states that “it is mainly believed that they died due to chemical poisoning caused by the conditions of the hotel where they were staying”.
Pathological examinations, microbiological (to detect pathogens), toxicological (to identify toxins) and chemical analyzes will still be carried out.
High risk for human life
After the evacuation of the hotel in the Fatih district, where the family was staying before being hospitalized, the hypothesis of chemical poisoning was raised. Investigators discovered that a room on the ground floor had recently been sprayed with chemicals, according to the Hurriyet news website.
Reports suggest that pesticides used to combat a bed bug infestation they will have passed into the family room through the ventilation system. The hypothesis still needs confirmation by the police, but it has reignited concerns about the use of industrial chemicals that could pose a high risk to human life.
Among these products are metal phosphides, which are effective in controlling pests, but which can cause serious illness and death if handled inappropriately. One of them is the aluminum phosphide (AlP)the agent allegedly used at the hotel.
When exposed to humidity in the air, this solid compound reacts and releases phosphine gas (PH₃), which is lethal to animals. Early signs of poisoning include vomiting and coughing up blood. The victims will have manifested these symptoms.
Cavit Isik Yavuz, a public health and environmental doctor at Hacettepe University, told DW that AlP generally is not authorized for home use.
“According to Turkish legislation, AlP can be used as a phytosanitary product in storage facilities for products such as grains, wheat and corn, but not in areas defined as public health, such as homes, hotels and workplaces. The Ministry of Health supervises the application of biocides in public health areas,” explained Yavuz, who recently co-signed a report on the proper use and management of the compound.
AlP is used to eliminate pests in cereal silos and protect crops. It is applied away from humans, such as inside rodent burrows. Its agricultural use is authorized in Türkiye and many other countries, including Brazil.
Limited supervision
Phosphate pesticides are recommended for large grain stores and should only be applied by licensed professionals. The product is often diluted to reduce the risk to workers and the public.
“Regulations, inspections and awareness regarding biocides require people to be aware of the potential dangers of these products,” explains Yavuz. “Trained professionals must apply the appropriate products in the appropriate locations, taking all necessary precautions.”
Like Turkey, many countries prohibit the use of metal phosphides to eliminate bed bugs. However, oversight and control of these substances is limited and products such as aluminum phosphide have been widely used in low- and middle-income countries to combat rodents and insects.
Turkey has already recorded deaths associated with the misuse of AlP. In 2023, a case of use to control bed bugs caused the death of a mother and a child, in addition to ten hospitalizations. Other suspected cases of aluminum phosphide poisoning were reported in 2024. In 2015, a similar incident of fighting bedbugs with aluminum phosphide illegally imported from Pakistan, in an apartment in Canada, caused the death of two children and sent four other family members to hospital.
How to control bed bugs
Health authorities around the world have different guidelines for controlling bedbugs, insects that feed on blood.
As a general rule, it is recommended to keep rooms clean, organized and clutter-free, as these insects prefer tight spaces. Bed bugs often hide in the seams of mattresses, bed frames, bedroom furniture and in cracks in the floor and walls.
Keeping a clean room helps prevent infestations. Although there are popular home remedies, such as vinegar sprays or essential oils, there is little scientific proof of their effectiveness.
The most reliable way to control bed bugs, recommended by most health authorities, includes regularly washing and drying bedding at a high temperature, vacuuming rooms, bed frames and mattresses, and applying hot steam to infested areas at around 50°C.
If professional disinfestation services are hired, it is important to ensure that they use pesticides that are approved and safe for humans.
