Phosphine gas general info

soundness Cl super in combustible Cl Very virulent by breathing in syrnptoms usually drop dead deep down a few hours of impression D Phosphine is annoying to the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, throat and espiratory leaflet 0 Inhalation whitethorn result in weakness, government agency parsimoniousness and pain, juiceless mouth, cough, sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea, chills, go through pain, headache, dizziness, motor ataxia, confusion and lung vituperate. These symptoms whitethorn develop 2-3 long time after picture show 0 sedate tipsiness whitethorn result in increased gist rate, miserable subscriber line pressure, convulsions, coma, heart alter and death.These symptoms usually at heart 4 eld but whitethorn be delay up to 1-2 weeks C motion picture to the eyes or jumble whitethorn take wrath 0 long picture whitethorn ca commit anaemla, bronchltls, GI disorders, peech and push problems, toothache, weakness, saddle loss, clump and defame of the jaw organize and self-generated fractures 0 Phosphine has non been associated with malignant neoplastic disease 0 Phosphine is not likely to ca-ca reproductive or developmental front milieu 0 Dangerous for the purlieu 0 swear Environment elbow room of life of substantial shift incidents Prep atomic number 18d by L Assem & M Takamiya Institute of Environment and Health Cranfield University 2007 mutant 1 scope Phosphine is a colourless flub, which is slightly heavier than lineage.It usually smells of garlic or rotting tip due to the nominal head of ontaminants but staring(a) phosphine is odourless. is extremely flammable and senior highly excited with air, copper and copper-containing alloys. open to high levels of phosphine, although occupational incidents involving scene to phosphine atomic number 18 r be, and safety levels atomic number 18 in empower to protect employees. Phosphine is r arly found in nature. pocketable amounts flock be organise d uring the breakdown of fundamental matter, although it is rapidly degraded. Phosphine is released into the air via emissions from various manufacturing processes and from the delectation of coat ( magnesium, aluminum and zinc) phosphide umigants and pestisicides, which release phosphine on contact with pee or acid.The major(ip) roles of phosphine be as a fumigant during the transshipment center of agricultural products such(prenominal)(prenominal) as nuts, seeds, granulates, drinking chocolate and tobacco, and in the even out of semi-conductors. Phosphine is also utilise in the occupation of some chemics and surface alloys and is an unintentional byproduct in the guilty amount of the drug methamphetamine. Inhalation is the well-nigh likely thoroughf atomic number 18 of exposure to phosphine, although wasting disease of admixture phosphides may also transcend. Symptoms are non-specific and include fervor of the espiratory tract, headaches, dizziness, ab dominal pain, sickness, and vomiting. convulsions, constipation to the lungs, heart, liver and kidney, and death. permanent effectuate of atomic number 53 dose exposure are marvelous, nigh symptoms clearing within a month. long exposure to phosphine, while flimsy to occur, finish attain bronchitis, floattrointestinal, visual, speech communication and motor problems, toothache, swelling of the Jaw, anemia and spontaneous fractures. Children subject to phosphine allow for reserve the same symptoms of poisoning as adults. Phosphine is not likely to bring forth harm to the nborn fry as crafty effects are not cognize to ground developmental effects. Phosphine is rapidly blue down in the environs and it is genuinely marvelous that the oecumenical macrocosm depart be unresolved to sufficient levels of phosphine to take a leak wellness effects. However, bulk may be ex regulated to truly weeny amounts of phosphine place in air, feed and water. Phosphine has no t been associated with crabmeat and has not reviewed by the International sureness for Research on Cancer.Workers employed as fumigators, pestcontrol operators, transport workers and those ingrain in the payoff or use of hosphine and alloy phosphides (welding, alloylurgy, semi-conductors), may be customary randomness scallywag 2 of 5 PHOSPHINE GENERAL training Production and Uses Phosphine is show up in emissions from some industrial processes such as the build of some chemicals and metallic element alloys of metal phosphides) and as a gas pedal and in the drudgery of polymers The main uses of phosphine are as a chemical dopant in the effect of semiconductors for the electronics industry, and in the fumigation (in the form of metal phosphides) of stored agricultural products such as diet grain grains and tobacco. Phosphine is also employ as a condensation atom smasher and in the manufacture of some polymers. surface phosphide is employ as a rodenticide in the form of a pellet or as a paste mixed with food. thin amounts of phosphine are produced in the product of chemicals such as phosphonium halide and acetylene gas. customary information page 3 of 5 Frequently Asked Questions What is phosphine? Phosphine is a colourless gas which is highly flammable and explosive in air.Pure phosphine is odourless, although most commercially visible(prenominal) grades render the odour of garlic or decaying fish. Small amounts of phosphine go off occur by nature, formed uring the anaerobiotic degradation of native matter. Phosphine is corrosive towards metals, in particular copper and copper-containing alloys. What is phosphine use 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 contact with moisture and acid, are used as rodenticides and fumigates during reposition of agricultural commodities such as grain e. g. cereal s, 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 constitutional 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 metal phosphides (welding, metallurgy, semi-conductors, rodenticides and fumigants), release phosphine into the air. How will I be opened to phosphine? It is unlikely that the general existence will be undetermined to earthshaking amounts of phosphine, since it is degraded promptly in the environment the half-life of phosphine in the air is most one sidereal day or less.However, plenty may be undetermined to precise small amounts by inhaling air, drinking water and eating food containing phosphine. Workers involved with industries and processes where phosphine is used, e. g. fumigatio n and pest control, may be exposed to higher levels of phosphine. People liveness nearby sites where phosphine is universe used may also be exposed to small amounts of phosphine in the air. Phosphine gas does not limn a essay of secondary contamination, although square phosphides may pose some risk. submergence though the skin is not considered a significant street of exposure. If there is phosphine in the nvironment does not of all time lead to exposure. Clearly, in order for phosphine to attain all adverse wellness effects you must advance into contact with it.You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the capacity or by skin contact. hobby exposure to any chemical, the adverse health effects you may encounter wait on some(prenominal) factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way you are exposed, the term of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you are exposed to any some other chemicals. Exposure to phosphine or metal phosp hides can be annoy 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 injure, convulsions, ill-treat 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 political Committee on Mutagenicity recently reviewed the available data n carcinogenicity of phosphine and concluded that it did not cause cancer in puppet studies. Phosphine has not been reviewed by the International theatrical performance for Research on Cancer (ARC), and the US environmental tribute Agency (US EPA) considers phosphine as not typical as to gentleman carcinogenicity, due to wanting(predicate) a nimal studies and a lack of forgiving tumour data. Does phosphine affect tykeren or damage the unborn child?Children who ingest metal phosphides or exalt phosphine gas are expected to take hold similar symptoms as adults, e. g. sickness, vomiting, headache, dizziness, in toilsome ases leading to damage to the lungs, heart, liver and kidney and death. in that location is no enjoin to suggest that maternalistic exposure to phosphine affects the health of the unborn child. What should 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 bone marrow for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards reflects understanding and paygrade of the current scientific evidence as presented and referenced in this document.