Aluminium Phosphide
Definition
A solid grey-green pellet fumigant sold as Celphos, Quickphos or Sulfo-Carb for stored grain. On contact with moisture it releases phosphine gas, which is lethal within about 30 minutes of ingestion of a single 3 g tablet. The dominant poison in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
- Common brand names
- Celphos, Quickphos, Sulfo-Carb
- Toxic gas released
- Phosphine
- Lethal onset
- About 30 minutes after a 3 g tablet
- Common region
- Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh
Common questions
Why does moisture exposure make aluminium phosphide so dangerous to handle or ingest?+
The pellet is stable when dry, but any contact with moisture, including stomach acid or humid air, triggers a chemical reaction that releases phosphine gas rapidly, which is why swallowing even a fraction of a tablet can be fatal within a short time.
Is there an effective antidote for aluminium phosphide poisoning?+
No approved antidote exists; treatment is supportive, focused on managing the resulting cardiogenic shock and metabolic derangement, which is a major reason for its high case fatality rate compared with many other common poisons.
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