What Is Aluminium Phosphide?
Aluminum phosphide is a crystalline substance that can be yellow or dark gray and smells like garlic. Aluminum phosphide will produce phosphine gas when it comes into contact with water or environmental moisture.
Farmers, pest controllers, gamekeepers, estate managers, and other professionals typically utilize aluminum phosphide as a pesticide. It is frequently distributed in pellets, and poisonous phosphine gas is created when moisture interacts. License and training are required to buy or use items containing aluminum phosphide. Semiconductor materials like light-emitting diodes are also made using aluminum phosphide.
How Does Aluminum Phosphide Affect the Environment?
When aluminum phosphide is produced, stored, transported, or disposed of in the industry, it may end up in the environment. Additionally, it could be discharged into the environment after being used as a pesticide. Although aluminum phosphide is bad for the environment, it breaks down after release.
What Happens After Aluminium Phosphide Exposure?
Aluminum phosphide is utilized for pest management in agriculture and is often employed as a fumigant for grain, exposing the workers to the chemical. Safe limits are nonetheless imposed to safeguard workers from phosphine or phosphorous hydride (highly toxic compound). These amounts are below what is expected to induce negative consequences. Aluminum phosphide is exclusively employed in closed environments. Therefore, exposure to the general population is not anticipated.
What Are the Adverse Effects of Exposure to Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning?
The negative health impacts experienced after exposure to any chemical depend on several variables, including the dose, mode of exposure, length of exposure, chemical form, and if there is a history of exposure to any other chemicals. The likelihood of the general population being exposed to aluminum phosphide is quite low. Aluminum phosphine is highly poisonous. In addition, it produces phosphine gas, which causes negative effects on health, when it comes into contact with water or moisture in the air. Contact with aluminum phosphide often leads to harmful consequences, which are rapid action. These include
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Ingestion: Aluminum phosphide ingestion can result in stomach and throat discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and labored breathing. They may be blood in the vomit, and the breath may smell like garlic. Lung damage, including a fluid buildup, can frequently happen after a delay of up to two days. Kidney damage, shock, heart failure, and death are all possible outcomes. According to reports, these toxins are secondary to aluminum phosphide consumption's deadly consequences, including significant circulatory collapse, fluid loss, and adrenal gland destruction. Direct effects on cardiomyocytes cause these effects.
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Inhalation: Aluminum phosphide releases phosphine gas, which, when inhaled, can irritate the lungs, nose, mouth, and throat. Some acute side effects are stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition, chest constriction, shortness of breath, dry mouth, fever, tremors, weakness, disorientation, and incoordination are possible symptoms. In extreme circumstances, it may result in a malfunctioning cardiac rhythm, heart failure, shock, an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, and even death.
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Contact with Skin: Sweating, discomfort, and a pins-and-needles sensation may result from contact with the skin. In addition, contact with the eyes can irritate the eyes and result in double vision and visible yellowing.
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Cancer and Aluminium Phosphine: It is not believed that aluminum phosphide is a substance that causes cancer.
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On Pregnant Women: Information on the consequences of aluminum phosphide exposure on pregnancy and the fetus is scarce. As a result, it is not possible to come to any firm conclusions. However, if the mother becomes ill due to aluminum phosphide exposure, effects on the unborn child are more likely to occur.
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On Children: It is predicted that children exposed to aluminum phosphide will have symptoms resembling those in adults. Youngsters' reactions to aluminum phosphide are the same as in adults, but with the same dosage, they may experience more severe symptoms than adults since children tend to weigh less.
How to Manage the Aluminium PhosphideToxicity?
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Decontamination: If ingestion of phosphides has occurred, it is usually preferred to avoid gastric lavage because it might speed up the pesticide's breakdown and enhance its toxicity. Instead, gastric lavage with potassium permanganate (1:10,000) is performed to decrease phosphine absorption. Permanganate oxidizes PH3 to create non-toxic phosphate.
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Supportive Therapy: Many individuals succumb to metal phosphide poisoning despite careful treatment. All that can be provided are supportive interventions, which should be carried out when clinical developments arise. Reviving from shock and putting supportive measures in place as soon as feasible is crucial for its success.
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Antioxidant Therapy: Different studies have suggested a reduction of glutathione after aluminum toxicity. Treatment with N-acetylcysteine is considered helpful in individuals with aluminum phosphide toxicity.
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Pralidoxime Therapy: Studies have proven that the administration of atropine and pralidoxime parenterally reduces the impact of aluminum phosphide toxicity. Furthermore, experiments on rats proved that nine out of 15 animals who received pralidoxime treatment enhanced their chances of survival by 2.5 times after the poisoning of aluminum phosphide.
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Magnesium Therapy: Electrolyte test reports showed decreased magnesium, whereas potassium may have increased or decreased. In addition, studies show magnesium supplementation stopped ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.
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Other Treatments: Other treatments for aluminum phosphide poisoning include vitamins C and E, melatonin, glutathione, beta-carotene, and dihydroxyacetone, although further study is needed to determine their effectiveness.
What Measures to Be Taken to Prevent the Toxicity?
1. Protective Clothing:
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Wear dry gloves made of cotton or other materials if contact with pills, pellets, or dust is anticipated.
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During use, gloves should be dry.
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After using items containing aluminum phosphide, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly.
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Before laundry, aeration of gloves and other potentially contaminated garments in a well-ventilated place is crucial.
2. Eye Protection:
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Wear chemical safety goggles and a full face shield to protect your eyes when dusting or spraying, or using solutions to avoid contact with eyes.
3. Respiratory Protection:
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Respiratory protection is necessary when phosphine concentration levels are unknown or when concentrations exceed permitted exposure limits.
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A NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved face mask is recommended for concentrations up to 15 ppm. In case of more than 15 ppm, phosphine exposure is unknown. In such cases, NIOSH-approved SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) can be worn to prevent damage.
Conclusion
Aluminum phosphate is a toxic material. Proper care and training are required to handle the material. The lack of a particular antidote causes a high death rate from aluminum phosphide poisoning. Supportive treatments are the only actions that might save a life when aluminum phosphide poisoning occurs without exposure.
