Aluminium phosphide (AIP) is a chemical compound used in agricultural pest control. When used irresponsibly and illegally in homes, it has led to deaths in the UAE and elsewhere.
It releases the lethal phosphine gas when it comes in contact with moisture in the air or acid in the stomach.
Phosphine is a colourless, flammable, toxic gas. Pure phosphine is odourless, but technical grade samples have a highly unpleasant odour like garlic or rotting fish.
Exposure to the substance can lead to drop in blood pressure and heart failure. Symptoms of poisoning can appear in minutes. These are non-specific, dose dependent and evolve with time.
They can include dizziness, fatigue, tightness in the chest, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, numbness, tremors, muscle weakness, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), heart failure, convulsion and coma.
The diagnosis of AIP usually depends on clinical suspicion or history, but can be made by a silver nitrate test on gastric content or on breath.
Due to no known specific antidote, its management remains primarily as supportive care, especially prompt and adequate cardiovascular support.
In more general cases of pesticide poisoning, victims should vacate the affected premises and/or removing the contaminated clothing.
Emergency help should be called immediately. While awaiting help, some measures can reduce damage like removing affected clothes and washing the affected area with plain water.
With inputs from Carolina D’Souza and Aghaddir Ali, Staff Reporters
