As many as 135 people ,mostly women have killed themselves by consuming black stone generally known as Kaala Pathar (Paraphenylene Diamine-C6H8N2 or C6H4(NH2)2 Only on Saturday five people in different districts including 18-year-old Humaira of Shujaabad, Fareed 19, Rehman Colony Multan, Kashif 18, Rehman 19, Muzaffargarh and 27-year-old Saira, Vehari attempted to take their lives by consuming the black stone and were hospitalized in critical condition.) during first three months of the ongoing year (2017) in Multan region.(Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) poisoning is amongst one of the emerging causes of poisoning in Asian countries. It is a constituent of hair dye formulation marked with the name of 'Kaala Pathar' and easily available in market at a low cost).PPD ingestion causes multiple organ dysfunctions. PPD is allergenic and tubulotoxic and causes angioneurotic edema and rhabdomyolysis, which lead to renal failure . Common presenting features include development of edema of the face, neck, pharynx, tongue and larynx, sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, hemodynamic instability and rhabdomyolysis followed by acute renal failure (ARF) as renal tubular necrosis occurs
Kaala Pathar (Paraphenylene Diamine) is a cheap substance, used to dye hair and is easily available in open market.9
Keeping in view the alarming situation, RPO had recommended the district administration to slap a ban on the sale of Kaala Pathar but no action has been taken yet in this regard. Paraphenylenediamine poisoning is reported globally, more so in the underdeveloped and developing countries. It was the number one of the leading cause of poisoning in Morocco during the 1990s , and an 11-year (1992-2002) retrospective study of 374 cases has been published from the Poison Control Center of Morocco . A study of 150 cases over 10 years has been reported from Khartoum, Sudan [4]. An audit of tracheostomies in the adult patients after PPD ingestion has also been reported .
