Photo Stories
February 7, 2003 - On January 11, 2003, a spokesperson from the National Zoo in Washington, DC announced that two red pandas had died after rat poison was buried in their enclosure. Environmentalists question why a pesticide with a history of poisoning both humans and animals was used in the first place. According to the Associated Press, this was the first time the zoo had used aluminum phosphide pellets, which emit toxic fumes, in an animal exhibit. Zoo staff also suffered symptoms related to the poison used.
In January 2002, two people were poisoned to death in Alabama by aluminum phosphide pellets they were using to rid rats from their home. A 75-year old woman and her 35-year old grandson died January 13 after handling recieving the pellets that they received from a family aquintence.
In August 2000, a 5-year-old girl in rural Mississippi died and four other family members were hospitalized after exposure to aluminum phophide. The family had recently buried the pellets around their house for rat control.
Aluminum phosphide is known to be highly acutely toxic when ingested or inhaled. Symptoms of mild to moderate acute exposure include nausea, abdominal pain, tightness in chest, excitement, restlessness, agitation and chills. Symptoms of more severe exposure include, diarrhea, cyanosis, difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, tachycardia (rapid pulse) and hypotension (low blood pressure), dizziness and/or death. According to the Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, rat poison accounts for the largest number of accidental poisonings in dogs.
For more information about the toxicity of aluminum phosphide, please contact Beyond Pesticides.
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