'Phosphine gas general info\r'

'Health Cl passing flammable Cl Very toxic by inhalation: syrnptoms usually occur within a few hours of pic D Phosphine is irritating to the mucose membranes of the nose, mouth, throat and espiratory tract 0 Inhalation whitethorn result in weakness, chest tightness and pain, juiceless mouth, cough, sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea, chills, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, ataxia, confusion and lung deterioration. These symptoms may develop 2-3 age after image 0 grim tipsiness may result in increased affection rate, low blood pressure, convulsions, coma, heart damage and death.These symptoms usually within 4 days but may be delayed up to 1-2 weeks C] Exposure to the look or shinny may mother fury 0 Long-term pictorial matter may event anaemla, bronchltls, gastrointestinal disorders, peech and motor problems, toothache, weakness, weight loss, swelling and damage of the jaw bone and involuntary fractures 0 Phosphine has non been associated with crabmeat 0 Phosphine is not likely to ca intention reproductive or developmental effects environs 0 Dangerous for the Environment 0 decl atomic number 18 Environment Agency of substantial break incidents fain by L Assem & M Takamiya bring of Environment and Health Cranfield University 2007 Version 1 basis Phosphine is a colourless gas, which is slightly heavier than air.It usually smells of ail or rotting fish due to the front man of ontaminants but pure phosphine is odourless. is extremely flammable and exceedingly reactive with air, copper and copper-containing alloys. exposed to higher trains of phosphine, although occupational incidents involving exposure to phosphine are rare, and safety levels are in place to protect employees. Phosphine is rarely found in nature. Small amounts give the gate be formed during the partitioning of constitutional matter, although it is speedily corrupted. Phosphine is released into the air via emissions from various manufacturing processes and from th e use of alloy (magnesium, aluminium and zinc) phosphide umigants and pesticides, which release phosphine on rival with water or acid.The major uses of phosphine are as a fumigant during the storage of agricultural products such as nuts, seeds, grains, coffee and tobacco, and in the manufacture of semi-conductors. Phosphine is alike use in the mathematical product of whatever chemics and alloy alloys and is an unknowing by-product in the illegal manufacture of the drug methamphetamine. Inhalation is the most likely course of exposure to phosphine, although ingestion of metallic element phosphides may also occur. Symptoms are non-specific and include irritation of the espiratory tract, headaches, dizziness, abdominal pain, sickness, and vomiting. convulsions, damage to the lungs, heart, liver-colored and kidney, and death. Long-lasting effects of single dose exposure are unlikely, most symptoms clearing within a month.Long-term exposure to phosphine, while unlikely to occ ur, can yard bronchitis, gastrointestinal, visual, delivery and motor problems, toothache, swelling of the Jaw, anaemia and spontaneous fractures. Children exposed to phosphine will own the same symptoms of drunkenness as adults. Phosphine is not likely to cause prostitute to the nborn child as acute effects are not known to cause developmental effects. Phosphine is rapidly broken down in the surround and it is genuinely unlikely that the general universe will be exposed to sufficient levels of phosphine to cause wellness effects. However, volume may be exposed to very diminutive amounts of phosphine present in air, food and water. Phosphine has not been associated with cancer and has not reviewed by the International Agency for enquiry on supportcer.Workers employed as fumigators, pestcontrol operators, transport workers and those mixed in the exertion or use of hosphine and metal phosphides (welding, metallurgy, semi-conductors), may be General tuition: rogue 2 of 5 PHOSPHINE †GENERAL INFORMATION ware and Uses Phosphine is present in emissions from some industrial processes such as the manufacture of some chemicals and metal alloys of metal phosphides) and as a gun and in the production of polymers The main uses of phosphine are as a chemical dopant in the manufacture of semiconductors for the electronics industry, and in the fumigation (in the form of metal phosphides) of stored agricultural products such as cereal grains and tobacco. Phosphine is also utilize as a condensation catalyst and in the manufacture of some polymers. Zinc phosphide is apply as a rodenticide in the form of a pellet or as a spread mixed with food. Small amounts of phosphine are produced in the production of chemicals such as phosphonium halide and acetylene gas. General information: Page 3 of 5 Frequently Asked Questions What is phosphine? Phosphine is a colourless gas which is highly flammable and volatile in air.Pure phosphine is odourless, although most comm ercially available grades have the odour of garlic or decaying fish. Small amounts of phosphine can occur naturally, formed uring the anaerobic degradation of radical matter. Phosphine is corrosive towards metals, in particular copper and copper-containing alloys. What is phosphine employ for? A major use of phosphine is as a semi-conductor doping agent by the electronics industry. Metal (aluminium, magnesium and zinc) phosphides, which release phosphine on clear up with moisture and acid, are used as rodenticides and fumigates during storage of agricultural commodities such as grain e. g. cereals, and tobacco. Phosphine is also used as a catalyst and in the production of polymers.How does phosphine get into the environment? Small amounts of phosphine occur naturally during the decomposition of phosphorouscontaining organic matter e. g. in marsh gas. Emissions and effluents from the manufacture of some chemicals and metal alloys, as well the production or use of phosphine and met al phosphides (welding, metallurgy, semi-conductors, rodenticides and fumigants), release phosphine into the air. How will I be exposed to phosphine? It is unlikely that the general population will be exposed to significant amounts of phosphine, since it is degraded quickly in the environment; the half-life of phosphine in the air is about one day or less.However, people may be exposed to very small amounts by inhaling air, drinking water and ingest food containing phosphine. Workers involved with industries and processes where phosphine is used, e. g. fumigation and pest control, may be exposed to higher levels of phosphine. People living close sites where phosphine is being used may also be exposed to small amounts of phosphine in the air. Phosphine gas does not present a risk of secondary contamination, although material phosphides may pose some risk. Absorption though the skin is not considered a significant route of exposure. If there is phosphine in the nvironment does not al trends wind to exposure. Clearly, in order for phosphine to cause any unfavorable wellness effects you must come into contact with it.You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance or by skin contact. Following exposure to any chemical, the adverse health effects you may encounter depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way you are exposed, the duration of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you are exposed to any other chemicals. Exposure to phosphine or metal phosphides can be irritating to the respiratory tract nd can cause weakness, chest pain and tightness, dry mouth, cough, sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea, chills, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, ataxia and confusion. Severe cases may lead to lung damage, convulsions, damage to the heart, liver and kidney, and death.General information: Page 4 of 5 Long-term exposure to low levels of phosphine can cause anaemia, bronchitis, gastrointestinal problems, visual, speech and motor problems, toothache, swelling of the Jaw and spontaneous fractures. Can phosphine cause cancer? The Governmental Committee on Mutagenicity recently reviewed the available data n carcinogenicity of phosphine and cogitate that it did not cause cancer in beast studies. Phosphine has not been reviewed by the International Agency for research on Cancer (‘ARC), and the US Environmental safeguard Agency (US EPA) considers phosphine as not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity, due to inadequate animal studies and a lack of human tumour data. Does phosphine affect children or damage the unborn child?Children who ingest metal phosphides or inhale phosphine gas are expect to have similar symptoms as adults, e. g. sickness, vomiting, headache, dizziness, in heartbreaking ases leading to damage to the lungs, heart, liver and kidney and death. There is no evidence to suggest that maternal exposure to phosphine affects the health of the unborn child. What sh ould I do if I am exposed to phosphine? It is very unlikely that the general population will be exposed to a level of phosphine high enough to cause adverse health effects. This document from the HPA Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards reflects sagacity and evaluation of the current scientific evidence as presented and referenced in this document.\r\n'