Santiago de Cuba/The official journalist Cuscó Tarradell, through a Facebook post citing the Communication area of the Municipal Assembly, warned that two people have died in Santiago de Cuba due to exposure to a highly toxic substance, sold as if it were “alum bleach.”
According to the information disclosed by Tarradell, the victims were two university workers. While those allegedly responsible for marketing the counterfeit product stole a batch of industrial bleach from the Mar Verde warehouses and relabeled it to pass it off as “alum bleach.” The compound that is circulating on the informal market is a very dangerous industrial chemical, even if ingested in small quantities.
The compound that is circulating is a very dangerous industrial chemical
True alum is a mineral salt that has traditionally been used to help clean water. When added to the liquid, it allows dirt and suspended particles to clump and fall to the bottom, making it easier to filter and improve clarity. The product has been used for decades in domestic and community basic purification processes, always in small quantities and under controlled conditions.
Tarradell accompanied the information with a call for attention to the local authorities and the Aguas Santiago Company, due to the poor quality of the water that is distributed and which forces many Santiago residents to search for substances to clarify it on their own. That need, he warned, leaves the population exposed to scams and dangerous compounds such as counterfeit “alum bleach.”
The poor quality of the water that comes through the pipes has worsened after Hurricane Melissa passed through the eastern part of the country. Residents in the city of Santiago de Cuba report that the water they receive has an earthy color, suspended particles, and often has a bad smell.
After what happened with the fake “alum bleach”, the authorities advise against consuming chemicals purchased on the street, even when they are presented as known substances, and always verify the origin and labeling of any compound intended for water treatment or domestic use.
The death of two people, as a result of exposure to this chemical substance, has not been reported by the official press. The local newspaper Sierra Maestra, On both its website and its Facebook page, it has not reported the deaths or the investigation against those accused of marketing the product.
