Inhalation of Phosphine Gas Following a Fire Associated with Fumigation of Processed Pistachio Nuts

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fong H ; Mehler L ; Nonato Y ; O'Malley, Michael A. ; Roisman R ; Sánchez ME
• Description:
  On December 10, 2009, a fumigation stack containing aluminum phosphide became soaked with rain water and caught fire at a pistachio processing plant in Kern County, California. Untrained plant personnel responding to the fire had exposure to pyrolysis by-products, particulates, and extinguisher ingredients. Ten workers taken for medical evaluation had respiratory and nonspecific systemic symptoms consistent with exposure to phosphine gas. Six of the 10 workers had respiratory distress, indicated by chest pain, shortness of breath, elevated respiratory rate, or decreased oxygen saturation. Recommendations are made for the management of similar illnesses and prevention of similar exposures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Digestive System Diseases Fires Food-Processing Industry Headache Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Aluminum Phosphide Difficulty Of Breathing Eye Irritation Food Processing Industry Food Processing Workers Fumigant Fumigation Gases Headache Nausea O2 Saturation Occupational Exposure Pistachios Respiratory Illness Respiratory Irritants Spontaneous Oxidation Vomiting

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• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  151-173
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059420
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2013 Apr; 18(2):151-173
• Contact Point Address:
  Michael O'Malley, MD, MPH, University of California Davis, Center for Health and Environment, Building 3792, Room 129, Old Davis Road, Davis CA 95616, USA
• Email:
  momalley@ucdavis.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Aluminum phosphide (CAS RN 20859-73-8) ; Phosphine (PH3) (CAS RN 7803-51-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Public Health Institute
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e606bc54df89cef6ce80ef9b6aac2fa71c49b3f36a83df406ef3d7e61d9b97a8093b1aa0d1e204e235ec5c2b39ad5ef22ac7467960164f91c21aa5bd98bb6619
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223665/cdc_223665_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.17 MB ]