Aluminium Phosphide Pellets

Hazard categories

WHO Class Ia -Extremely hazardous Main Hazard: Very toxic if swallowed or inhaled. Flammability: Flammable Chemical Hazard: Aluminium Phosphide reacts with water to produce phosphine (PH3). This product is formulated with 56% (minimum) aluminium phosphide and also contains ammonium carbamate and inert ingredients. Ammonium carbamate releases ammonia and carbon dioxide which serves as a warning agent. Pure phosphine gas is odourless. The garlic odour is due to a contaminant. Since the odour of phosphine may not be detected under some circumstances, the absence of a garlic odour does not mean that dangerous levels of hydrogen phosphide gas are absent. Biological Hazard: Toxic to aquatic organisms. 4. FIRST AID MEASURES AND PRECAUTIONS If poisoning is suspected, do not wait for symptoms to develop. Contact a physician, the nearest hospital, or the nearest Poison Control Centre immediately. Symptoms of Human Poisoning: Initial clinical signs include dilated pupils, tachycardia shock and low blood pressure. Progressive clinical signs include chest congestion, lymphocytosis, vertigo, albuminuria jaundice, haematuria, thrombocytopaenia and in most severe cases, anuria shock. Mild exposure by inhalation causes malaise (indefinite feeling of sickness), ringing in the ears, fatigue, nausea and pressure in the chest which is relieved by removal to fresh air. Moderate poisoning causes weakness, vomiting, pain just above the stomach, chest pain, diarrhea and dyspnea (difficulty in breathing). Symptoms of severe poisoning may occur within a few hours to several days resulting in pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs) and may lead to dizziness, cyanosis (blue or purple skin color), unconsciousness and death. In sufficient quantity of phosphine gas affects the liver, kidneys, lungs, nervous system and circulatory system. Inhalation can cause lung edema and hyperemia, small perivascular brain hemorrhages and brain edema. Ingestion can cause lung and brain symptoms, but damage to viscera is more common. Phosphine poisoning may result in pulmonary edema, liver elevated serum GOT, LDH and alkaline phosphatase, reduced prothrombin, haemorrhage, jaundice and kidney hematuria and anuria. Pathology is characteristic of hypoxia. Frequent exposure over a period of days or weeks may cause poisoning. Treatment is symptomatic. For further information, contact the national poison center.