Recent seizure underlines the scale of the problem and product mix that confirms the considerable risk to consumers.
The death of a young man following the suspected consumption of a chemical substance bought online is a salutary reminder of the deadly risks of buying medication on the internet. The victim is believed to have consumed dinitrophenol (DNP), which is marketed as a slimming pill. Worldwide DNP has been linked to 60 deaths among body builders and people with eating disorders attempting to rapidly lose weight.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) warns products containing DNP are unfit for human consumption. DNP works by winding up the body’s metabolism, resulting in excess energy being released into cells in the form of heat. Symptoms of acute toxicity include hyperthermia, rapid pulse, sweating, increased respiratory rate and cardiac arrest. Damage to the liver, kidneys and the nervous system may also occur.
Source: Pat O'Mahony, Irish Times, 29/06/15
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