Contamination of mustard oil has led to several outbreaks of Epidemic Dropsy in India. Which one of the following contaminant is responsible for it ?

Epidemic dropsy is a clinical condition caused by the consumption of edible oils, primarily mustard oil, contaminated with Argemone oil (Argemone mexicana) [t2][t3]. Argemone seeds are often mixed with mustard seeds due to their similar physical appearance—both being small, spherical, and dark-colored [t4][t5]. The toxicity arises from the presence of benzophenanthridine alkaloids, specifically sanguinarine and dehydrosanguinarine [t2][t9]. These toxins cause widespread capillary dilatation and increased permeability, leading to protein-rich plasma leakage and the characteristic edema (dropsy) [t2][t9]. Historically, India has faced several outbreaks, such as the major 1998 incident where mustard oil was deliberately adulterated for economic gain [t1][t6]. Symptoms include gastrointestinal distress, swelling of limbs, and in severe cases, cardiac failure or glaucoma [t7][t9]. While other oils like linseed or palm oil are used as adulterants, they do not cause epidemic dropsy [t1][t4].

Sources

1. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1741391/