PALM ISLAND RECONSIDERED. WAS IT COPPER POISONING?

Abstract

The clinical features of the ''Palm Island mystery disease'' cannot be explained on the basis of toxocariasis, nor do they correlate with the known manifestations of algal toxicity. A detailed review of acute and chronic copper poisoning in humans and laboratory animals supports this as a possible explanation for the epidemic. The mechanisms involved in copper intoxication are discussed briefly, and a scenario is proposed to explain the occurrence and pathogenesis of the outbreak.