Prevention and Control of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
James H. S. Gear in CRC Handbook of Viral and Rickettsial Hemorrhagic Fevers, 2019
The methods to be utilized clearly must be determined by the species and habits of the rodents concerned, seasonal fluctuations in population density, and the interrelationship between the animal and the virus. For example, the arenaviruses tend to be excreted especially into the urine and this continues for life. The reservoir host of Lassa fever, Mastomys coucha (formerly known as M. natalensis3), almost invariably urinates when frightened.4 Any control measure which frightens the animal, such as trapping, therefore has the potential to promote rather than discourage virus transmission. Rodenticides may be preferred, taking due cognizance of patterns of behavior, such as feeding, breeding, and nesting habits, as well as home range and reproductive capacity of the locally prevailing species. Wild rodents which tend to shun human habitation are, because of their wide dispersion, less amenable to control than domestic or semidomestic species which are associated with the human habitat. However, greater care needs to be taken with the choice of rodenticide in order to avoid harm to children, dogs, poultry, and livestock. Zinc phosphide, a reliable acute poison, has been widely used. Fumigation with hydrocyanic acid in powder form or with carbon monoxide is especially useful for burrowing rodents, but the potential dangers require it to be practiced by trained and experienced personnel.5
Metallic poisons *
Bev-Lorraine True, Robert H. Dreisbach in Dreisbach’s HANDBOOK of POISONING, 2001
Phosphorus exists in several allotropic forms, the most important of which are red phosphorus, a granular, nonabsorbed, and nonpoisonous form; and white phosphorus, a yellow, waxy, water-insoluble and fat-soluble, highly poisonous form that will burn on contact with air. Red phosphorus is sometimes contaminated with white phosphorus. The striking surface of a safety match contains 50% red phosphorus. White phosphorus is used in rodent and insect poisons, fireworks, and fertilizer manufacture. The action of water or acids on metals will liberate phosphine (hydrogen phosphide, PH3) if phosphorus is present as a contaminant. Phosphine may also be present in acetylene. Phosphides, which are used as rat poisons, release phosphine on contact with water. Phosphorus sesquisulfide (tetraphosphorus trisulfide) has low toxicity. The heads of 20 large wooden matches contain 220 mg phosphorus sesquisulfide.
Pesticides
David J. George in Poisons, 2017
Metal phosphide compounds are commonly used by licensed exterminators. These compounds react with moisture and produce phosphine gas, which is extremely toxic. Phosphine blocks many cellular processes and causes multisystem organ failure leading to death. Other commercially available rodenticides act as either neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, or disrupt critical metabolic processes. Rodenticides are rather nonspecific and can poison birds and other wildlife, pets, and humans. Older rodenticides containing discontinued and unlicensed substances can still be found in barns, attics, and other neglected storage areas. Unapproved pesticide products can also be imported illegally by individuals who obtain them from friends or relatives living outside the United States.
Trends of acute drug and chemical toxicities in adults and adolescents in Tehran, Iran between 2012 and 2018: a retrospective chart review
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
Seyed Kaveh Hadeiy, Parinaz Parhizgar, Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam, Nasim Zamani, Ali Khoshkar, Ali-Asghar Kolahi, Alireza Amirabadizadeh, Omidvar Rezaei
Since 2000, pesticide use has increased in Iran due to the increasing need for agricultural products. Pesticides may be deliberately used to attempt suicide or accidentally ingested due to contaminated water. Aluminum and zinc phosphide are among potent phosphide pesticides used mainly for fumigation of rice and other crops in Iran. Due to easy access, low price, and potential mortality of aluminum phosphide, it is a relatively common method of suicide in our country (Hashemi-Domeneh et al.2016). In the recent years, there had been restrictions to chemical trades, and it seems this policy has been effective in reducing pesticide poisonings and deaths.
Intentional pesticide poisoning and pesticide suicides in Nepal
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2022
Rakesh Ghimire, Leah Utyasheva, Manisha Pokhrel, Neshan Rai, Birendra Chaudhary, Pratap Narayan Prasad, Sangha Ratna Bajracharya, Bhupendra Basnet, Krishna Deo Das, Nandu Kumar Pathak, Madan Prasad Baral, Rajan Pande, Pramod Paudel, Sanu Krishna Shrestha, Sumana Bajracharya, Ritesh Chaudhary, Gyanendra Bahadur Malla, Dilli Ram Sharma, Buddha Basnyat, Mahesh Kumar Maskey, Michael Eddleston
A total of 2535 pesticide suicide poisoning cases were identified from the two forensic laboratories − 1463 (57.7%) were due to ingestion of OP insecticides and 653 (25.7%) due to exposure to phosphine gas after ingesting aluminum or zinc phosphide. Pyrethroids, carbamate and OP and pyrethroid combinations insecticides were responsible for 95, 83, and 31 deaths respectively. The most important OP identified was dichlorvos (273, 60.6%) followed by unidentified OP insecticides (210, 31.8%) (Table 4 and Figure 2). Aluminum phosphide was identified in 299/891, 33.5% of cases from CPFSL.
Exploring research gaps and trends in the management of acute phosphide poisoning: a systematic review
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2023
Zahraa Khalifa Sobh, Marwa Kholief, Eman Khalifa Sobh, Manal Ibrahim Fathy Balah
Phosphine (PH3) gas is the toxic ingredient of metal phosphides. It has a low molecular weight that enables rapid diffusion and deep penetration into stored grains or packed materials. PH3 is odorless in its pure state; however, a foul odor is often associated with the evolution of PH3 from various commercial products because of impurities (Alzahrani and Ebert 2023).