News reports indicate that traces of phosphine gas emanating from the damaged MV Chitra which was involved in a collision with another ship at Mumbai Port is delaying salvage efforts. The ship was reportedly carrying Aluminium phosphide, which is used as a pesticide and rodenticide. Aluminium phosphide on reaction with water generates phosphine. Wikepedia reports the following on phosphine:Phosphine gas may form explosive mixtures with air and can self ignite. The gas is heavier than air. When phosphine burns, it produces a dense white cloud of phosphorus pentoxide – a severe respiratory irritant.[8]
Also, Wikepedia reports the following about Aluminium phosphide:
In October 2002, Sir Derek Bibby, 2nd baronet and great-great-grandson of the founder and past chairman and president of the Bibby Line shipping company, aged 80 and terminally ill with leukaemia, committed suicide by consuming aluminium phosphide - the poison, hours later, caused his body to emit dangerous fumes forcing the evacuation of the hospital department where his body was being held.[4]
In February 2009, two children died in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after a neighbouring house was fumigated with aluminium phosphide.[5]
In February 2010, two sisters died in Layton, Utah after the area around their home was treated with fumitoxin to get rid of rats. The two sisters, ages 4 years old and 15 months, died just three days apart from each other after experiencing identical symptoms.[6]
See the following links for further information
News item about phosphine gas leak
Aluminium phosphide
Phosphine
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