One Killed, 7 Injured in Blast at Banana Fermentation Plant in Tripoli

W460

One person was killed on Sunday in an explosion at a banana fermentation center in the northern city of Tripoli, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

Seven people were also wounded in the blast that occurred in the city's Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood.

The National News Agency said that the explosion was sparked due to the use of carbide, which the most commonly used ripening agent for fruits.

The security forces have since cordoned off the area.

A similar incident took place in January 2013, when one person was killed and five others injured in an explosion at a banana fermentation plant in the southern city of Sidon.

Comments 3
Thumb ado.australia 27 December 2015, 15:23

Using carbine to ripen fruit is harmful to people... it uses arsenic! Thats why its very important to wash well, the fruit and vegetables in Lebanon!

Default-user-icon Sharshaf (Guest) 27 December 2015, 17:10

Calcium carbide is also used for ripening fruit artificially in some countries. When calcium carbide comes in contact with moisture, it produces acetylene gas, which is quite similar in reaction to the natural ripening agent ethylene. Acetylene acts like ethylene and accelerates the ripening process, but is inadvisable because calcium carbide has carcinogenic properties.[1] Industrial-grade calcium carbide may also contain traces of arsenic and phosphorus which makes it a human health concern.[2] The use of this chemical for this purpose is illegal in most countries.

Source Wikipedia

Missing peace 27 December 2015, 19:54

"Calcium carbide is extremely hazardous to the human body as it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus. It is banned in many countries of the world, but it is freely used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries. Thus we are at risk of short-term and long-term health effects simply by eating fruits that are induced to ripen."
https://www.quora.com/How-dangerous-is-carbide-used-to-ripe-banana-and-other-fruits

pityful country that does not give a sh... to people's health...