WINNIPEG (Staff) – Phostoxin is used by farmers, applicators and elevators to kill rusty grain beetles. It is poisonous and works quickly.
Phostoxin comes in pellet or tablet form and is greenish-gray in color. It reacts with moisture to produce phosphine, a highly flammable gas that smells like garlic, carbide or rotting fish. This gas kills the beetles.
Here are some safety tips for using the chemical:
- Always read the label. Phostoxin is dangerous, but following the directions to the letter will decrease your risks of exposure. If you have any doubts, get help.
- Store it in a locked, dry, cool, well-ventilated area. Do not store it in a building where people live or work, or in a barn with animals.
- The label will explain how much to use and how long to leave the grain. Don’t take short cuts.
- Never fumigate alone.
- Wear gloves, protective clothing and a dust mask. Have the proper gas mask on hand just in case.
- Open the canister outdoors, away from you, with your back to the wind.
- Grain must be at least 5 C for the phostoxin to decompose into phosphine.
- If you can smell the gas, you’ve inhaled too much. Mild exposure can cause ringing in the ears, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and pressure in the chest. Get fresh air and medical attention.
- High levels of the gas will cause fluid in the lungs, dizziness, cyanosis (blue-purple skin color), difficulty walking, unconsciousness and death.
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