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ZINC PHOSPHIDE

4.3 - Dangerous when wet 6.1 - Poison
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The Chemical Identifier fields include common identification numbers, the NFPA diamond U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
CAS Number UN/NA Number
  • 1314-84-7
DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • Dangerous When Wet
  • Poison
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
none
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
3
3 1
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 3 Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
Yellow Instability 1 Normally stable but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures.
White Special
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
Zinc phosphide is a dark gray granular solid. It is slowly decomposed by water giving off phosphine, a flammable poison gas. It is toxic by ingestion. It is used in medicine and as a rat poison.

The Hazard fields include special hazard alerts air and water reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and details about reactive groups assignments and potentially incompatible absorbents. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
  • Strong Reducing Agent
Air & Water Reactions
Experiments conducted at Argonne showed that no gas is generated upon mixing with water. "Development of the Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Distances for the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook", ANL/DIS-09-2, D.F. Brown, H.M. Hartmann, W.A. Freeman, and W.D. Haney, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, June 2009.
Fire Hazard
When heated to decomposition, it emits toxic fumes of phosphorus and zinc oxides. Irritating oxides of phosphorus may be formed in fires. May ignite in presence of moisture. Contact with water produces flammable gas. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Decomposed slowly by water giving off phosphine, a flammable poison gas. Reacts violently with concentrated sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and other oxidizing agents. Reacts with hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid with the evolution of spontaneously flammable phosphine. May ignite in the presence of moisture, or evolve flammable gas. Stable unless exposed to moisture; toxic phosphine gas may then be released and collected in closed spaces. Hazardous polymerization may not occur. (EPA, 1998)
Health Hazard
This compound is very caustic when ingested. Zinc phosphide reacts with water and acid in the stomach and causes severe irritation. The probable oral lethal dose is 5-50 mg/kg, or between 7 drops and 1 teaspoonful for a 70 kg (150 lb.) person. Most patients die after about 30 hours from peripheral vascular collapse secondary to the compound's direct effects. Extensive liver damage and kidney damage can also occur. Ingestion of 4-5 grams has produced death in human adults, but also doses of 25 to 50 grams have been survived. The lowest oral lethal dose reported for women is 80 mg/kg. (EPA, 1998)
Reactivity Profile
ZINC PHOSPHIDE is a reducing agent. They slowly generate flammable or noxious gases in contact with water. Phosphides react quickly upon contact with moisture or acids to give the very toxic gas phosphine; phosphides also can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. In general, materials in this group are incompatible with oxidizers such as atmospheric oxygen. They are violently incompatible with acids, particularly oxidizing acids.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

The Response Recommendation fields include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 139 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable and Toxic Gases)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Wear boots, protective gloves, and goggles. Wear self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material. Keep unnecessary people away; isolate hazard area and deny entry. Stay upwind; keep out of low areas. Move container from fire area if you can do so without risk.

Do not use water or foam. Small fires, use dry chemical, soda ash or lime. Large fires, withdraw from area and let burn. Do not use any agent with an acid reaction (i.e., carbon dioxide or halogenated agents) as phosphine will be liberated. (EPA, 1998)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 139 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable and Toxic Gases)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. DO NOT GET WATER on spilled substance or inside containers. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. FOR CHLOROSILANES, use AFFF alcohol-resistant medium-expansion foam to reduce vapors.

SMALL SPILL: Cover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize spreading or contact with rain. Dike for later disposal; do not apply water unless directed to do so.

POWDER SPILL: Cover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading and keep powder dry. DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
For emergency situations, wear a positive pressure, pressure-demand, full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or pressure- demand supplied air respirator with escape SCBA and a fully-encapsulating, chemical resistant suit. (EPA, 1998)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Warning: Highly toxic phosphine gas may evolve from vomitus and feces of victim.

Signs and Symptoms of Zinc Phosphide Exposure: Acute symptoms of oral ingestion include nausea, abdominal pain, tightness in the chest, excitement, agitation, and chills. Signs of severe poisoning include labored breathing, shock, halted urine output, metabolic acidosis, muscle cramps, and convulsions. The compound's caustic action may cause the esophagus to close. Inhalation of zinc phosphide dust is followed in several hours by vomiting, diarrhea, bluing of the skin, rapid pulse, fever, and shock. The vomitus, feces, and sometimes the breath may have a decaying fish odor.

Emergency Life-Support Procedures: Acute exposure to zinc phosphide may require decontamination and life support for the victims. Emergency personnel should wear protective clothing appropriate to the type and degree of contamination. Air-purifying or supplied-air respiratory equipment should also be worn, as necessary. Rescue vehicles should carry supplies such as plastic sheeting and disposable plastic bags to assist in preventing spread of contamination.

Inhalation Exposure:
1. Move victim to fresh air. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to zinc phosphide.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer 100% humidified oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Rush to a health care facility.
4. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for performance of other invasive procedures.

Dermal/Eye Exposure:
1. Remove victims from exposure. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to zinc phosphide.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer 100% humidified oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
4. If eye exposure has occurred, eyes must be flushed with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
5. Wash exposed skin areas thoroughly with soap and water.
6. Rush to a health care facility.
7. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for performance of other invasive procedures.

Ingestion Exposure:
1. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer 100% humidified oxygen or respiratory support.
2. Rush to a health care facility.
3. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for performance of other invasive procedures.
4. DO NOT induce vomiting or attempt to neutralize. (EPA, 1998)

The Physical Property fields include properties such as vapor pressure and boiling point, as well as explosive limits and toxic exposure thresholds The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.

Note: For Vapor Density and Specific Gravity, comparing the value to 1.0 can tell you if the chemical will likely sink/rise in air or sink/float in fresh water (respectively). Short phrases have been added to those values below as an aid. However, make sure to also consider the circumstances of a release. The Vapor Density comparisons are only valid when the gas escaping is at the same temperature as the surrounding air itself. If the chemical is escaping from a container where it was pressurized or refrigerated, it may first escape and behave as a heavy gas and sink in the air (even if it has a Vapor Density value less than 1). Also, the Specific Gravity comparisons are for fresh water (density 1.0 g/mL). If your spill is in salt water (density about 1.027 g/mL), you need to adjust the point of comparison. There are some chemicals that will sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
Chemical Formula:
  • P2Zn3
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: 788°F (EPA, 1998)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 4.55 (EPA, 1998) - Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: 2012°F at 760 mmHg (EPA, 1998)
Molecular Weight: 258.09 (EPA, 1998)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: data unavailable

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Final AEGLs for Zinc Phosphide (1314-84-7)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes NR 2 ppm 3.6 ppm
30 minutes NR 2 ppm 3.6 ppm
60 minutes NR 1 ppm 1.8 ppm
4 hours NR 0.25 ppm 0.45 ppm
8 hours NR 0.13 ppm 0.23 ppm
NR = Not recommended due to insufficient data
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Zinc phosphide (1314-84-7) 0.091 ppm 1 ppm 1.8 ppm
(DOE, 2018)

The Regulatory Information fields include information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of Lists, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List (see more about these data sources).

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Zinc Compounds N982 & 313
Zinc phosphide 1314-84-7 500 pounds 100 pounds 100 pounds 313c P122
Zinc phosphide (conc. <= 10%) 1314-84-7 500 pounds 100 pounds 100 pounds 313c U249
Zinc phosphide (conc. > 10%) 1314-84-7 500 pounds 100 pounds 100 pounds 313c P122

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

No regulatory information available.

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

No regulatory information available.

This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.
  • ARREX E
  • BLUE-OX
  • DELUSAL
  • KILRAT
  • MOUS-CON
  • NERA
  • PHOSUIM
  • PHOSVIN
  • RATOL
  • RUMETAN
  • STUTOX
  • STUTOX I
  • TRIZINC DIPHOSPHIDE
  • WUEHLMAUS-KOEDER
  • WUEHLMAUSTOD ARVIKOL
  • ZINC PHOSPHIDE
  • ZINC PHOSPHIDE (CONC. <= 10%)
  • ZINC PHOSPHIDE(ZN3P2)
  • ZINC-TOX
  • ZINCTOX
  • ZP
  • ZP RODENT BAIT AG

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