Occupational Phosphine Gas Poisoning at Veterinary Hospitals from Dogs That Ingested Zinc Phosphide – Michigan, Iowa, and Washington, 2006–2011

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Calvert, Geoffrey M. ; Schwartz, Abby ; Sievert, Jennifer ; Tsai, Rebecca J. ; Walker, Robert
• Description:
  Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) is a readily available rodenticide that, on contact with stomach acid and water, produces phosphine (PH3), a highly toxic gas. Household pets that ingest Zn3P2 often will regurgitate, releasing PH3 into the air. Veterinary hospital staff members treating such animals can be poisoned from PH3 exposure. During 2006-2011, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received reports of PH3 poisonings at four different veterinary hospitals: two in Michigan, one in Iowa, and one in Washington. Each of the four veterinary hospitals had treated a dog that ingested Zn3P2. Among hospital workers, eight poisoning victims were identified, all of whom experienced transient symptoms related to PH3 inhalation. All four dogs recovered fully. Exposure of veterinary staff members to PH3 can be minimized by following phosphine product precautions developed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Exposure of pets, pet owners, and veterinary staff members to PH3 can be minimized by proper storage, handling, and use of Zn3P2 and by using alternative methods for gopher and mole control, such as snap traps. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Case Reports Hazardous Substances Health Personnel Insecticides Occupational Health Poisoning Safety Veterinarians Zinc Compounds
• Keywords:
  Case-studies Pest-control Pesticide-residues Poison-control Poison-gases Poisons Rodenticides Surveillance-programs Toxic-gases Veterinary-medicine Zinc-compounds

  More +
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  3 pdf pages
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040697
• Citation:
  MMWR 2012 Apr; 61(16):286-288
• Email:
  rtsai@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Phosphine (PH3) (CAS RN 7803-51-2) ; Zinc phosphide (CAS RN 1314-84-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e38e0224ee14f6b6752b77c8750a09bffa6c9860207dfc6412d05acef2ad6a352ef841288421c1706cb098e172887acd67b149287989a557f14300132cfaacc2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183236/cdc_183236_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 295.24 KB ]