Zinc phosphide
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Zinc phosphide is used as a rodenticide.
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Zinc phosphide has a disagreeable odour but not to the rodents.
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Under acid conditions, it liberates phosphine gas, which is highly inflammable and toxic.
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Phosphine gas is used as a grain fumigant.
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Zinc phosphide is absorbed from the stomach.
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It is directly irritant to the gut and causes vomiting.
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Phosphine gas at the acid pH in the stomach causes acute toxicosis.
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In humans inhalation of phosphine causes dyspnoea, hypotension, bradycardia, nausea and vomiting.
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Phosphine gas blocks cytochrome oxidase and this in turn reduces energy production.
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There is also increase in reactive oxygen species resulting in peroxidation and other cellular oxidative damage.
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Clincal signs
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Clinical signs include anorexia, lethargy; vomiting of blood, increase in rate and depth of respiration, abdominal pain, bloat, ataxia, weakness, prostration, gasping, convulsions, coma and death in 3 to 48 hors.
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Dogs show symptoms of mad dog running – aimless running, howling and yelling, snapping of teeth, tremors and extensor rigidity seizures.
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Lesions include pulmonary congestion, oedema, pleural effusion, subpleural haemorrhage, congestion of liver and kidney, gastroenteritis and acetylene like odour in the vomitus or stomach contents.
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Zinc levels in the blood, liver, and kidneys may be increased.
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Sodium bicarbonate can be administered to alter the pH so as to reduce the conversion of zinc phosphide to phosphine gas.
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Gastric emptying and lavage with 5% sodium bicarbonate, calcium gluconate and 1/6Molar sodium lactate is useful.
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Intravenous dextrose can be administered to control kidney and liver disorders.
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Last modified: Sunday, 30 October 2011, 9:56 AM