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Environmental and Medical Aspects Related to the Sixth Plague of Egypt
Elias E. MAZOKOPAKIS and Christos G. KARAGIANNIS
ABSTRACT
The sixth Egyptian plague described in the Book of Exodus (the second book of the Pentateuch or Torah) was one of the Ten Plagues of Egypt which occurred probably during the 13th century BC. This plague was an acute epidemic skin disease characterized by boils that eventually formed ulcers on the skin. The sixth Egyptian plague comprises the first medical report on the harmful effects of soot/dust on skin and presages the nowadays well-known harmful effects of soot-induced air pollution on the environment and human health.
Keywords: anthrax, boils, Book of Exodus, environmental medicine, Old Testament, soot, sixth plague