Health & Safety Information on Phostoxin
Using Phostoxin Safely
What is Phostoxin?
Phostoxin gassing tablets contain aluminium phosphide, which reacts with normal atmospheric moisture to liberate phosphine (hydrogen phosphide) gas.
Download Phostoxin Safety Data Sheet.
It is not necessary for the tablets to come into contact with wet soil for the chemical reaction to occur. Normal atmospheric moisture alone is sufficient to activate the decomposition process, which produces 1g of phosphine gas from each 3g tablet during complete decomposition.
What is Aluminium phosphide?
Aluminium phosphide is a highly toxic substance and the phosphine gas which it liberates is lethal to all animals at low concentrations in the air in nests, warrens and burrows.
Before working with Phostoxin, users must be given Phostoxin training in the use of aluminium phosphide and must obey all the appropriate safety requirements for working with the substance. Always read the product label and Phostoxin Safety Data Sheet before working with Phostoxin.
Safety with Phostoxin
Children, domestic and farm animals should be kept away from the treated areas for at least 2 days to prevent any possibility of the tablets being dug up whilst they are active.
Phostoxin decomposes into a small pile of greyish powder, which has no residual effect on the soil, nor will it in any way harm plant life in the treated area.
- Phostoxin tablets should NOT be used to treat runs or burrows which are within 3metres of an occupied building.
- Do not attempt to gas the shallow feeding tunnels, since these are rapidly abandoned and are not in permanent use.
- Phostoxin tablets should never be placed or allowed to remain on the ground surface.
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