Magnesiumphosphid

Insecticides, Rodenticides

Active substance -> EU Pesticides database: Approved

2.06 g/cu cm

2.1 g/cm³

Reacts with water

In water, 0.01 g/L

Solubility in water: reaction

Magnesium phosphide is a white crystalline solid. It reacts violently with water and may ignite upon contact with air. It is toxic by ingestion. It is used to make other chemicals.

YELLOW-TO-GREEN CRYSTALS.

Danger

H260: In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously [Danger Substances and mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases]

P223, P231+P232, P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P316, P302+P335+P334, P302+P352, P304+P340, P316, P320, P321, P330, P361+P364, P370+P378, P391, P402+P404, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Danger

H260 (100%): In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously [Danger Substances and mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases]

P223, P231+P232, P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P316, P302+P335+P334, P302+P352, P304+P340, P316, P320, P321, P330, P361+P364, P370+P378, P391, P402+P404, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1490/2002

2008/125, Reg. (EU) 2017/195, Reg. (EU) 2022/708, Reg. (EU) 2023/1446, Reg. (EU) No 540/2011

Magnesium phosphide: Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standard

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 139 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable and Toxic Gases)]:

· Produce flammable and toxic gases on contact with water.

Not combustible but forms flammable gas on contact with water or damp air. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire. Risk of fire and explosion on contact with water or damp air.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 139 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable and Toxic Gases)]:

· Highly toxic: contact with water produces toxic gas, may be fatal if inhaled.

USEPA/Office of Pesticide Programs; Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document - Aluminum and Magnesium Phosphide EPA 738-R-98-017 (December 1998). The RED summarizes the risk assessment conclusions and outlines any risk reduction measures necessary for the pesticide to continue to be registered in the U.S.[]

National Advisory Committee on Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances; Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for Phosphine (CAS Reg. No. 7803-51-2) and Selected Metal Phosphides. 50 pp. (August 2008)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 139 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable and Toxic Gases)]:

Use carbon dioxide, dry sand. NO water.

Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Induce vomiting (ONLY IN CONSCIOUS PERSONS!). Rest. Refer for medical attention .

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 139 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable and Toxic Gases)]:

General First Aid:

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not use water. Use dry chemical or carbon dioxide.

If fire becomes uncontrollable or container is exposed to direct flame, consider evacuation of one-half (1/2) mile radius.

Spillages and residues in containers will evolve phosphine for several days by reaction with atmospheric moisture. Respiratory protective equipment will be required by those dealing with them. Even if atmospheric concentrations of phosphine are initially low, they may rise as residues are disturbed. Moderate quantities should be collected in a secure place to protect the public and wildlife and left in the open air and kept moist until hydrolysis is complete. /SRP: Under emergency conditions:/ larger amounts should be removed to a deep pit, at an approved site, until phosphine evolution is complete. Then they can be buried. Residues at the site of spillage should be washed away in a large quantity of water and the area kept secure and aerated until checked for zero gas concentration.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Combustible packages can be incinerated at high temperature (> 1000 °C) using proper facilities.

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: gas-tight chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Sweep spilled substance into covered sealable containers. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

For information on this pesticide product (including health concerns, medical emergencies, or pesticide incidents), call the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network at 1-800-858-7378.

People who show signs of overexposure to phosphine gas, or are given any first aid treatment due to phosphine ..., must be taken directly to a doctor or emergency treatment facility, along with a copy of the label, the applicator's manual and/or the MSDS, which will be provided to the attending physician.

The certified applicator must ensure that those who require respiratory protection are part of a Respiratory Protection Program per OSHA standards contained in 29 CFR 1910.134.

Under no circumstances shall food, feed, and/or raw agricultural commodities which may be used directly as foods come into contact with aluminum or magnesium phosphide.

For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for Magnesium phosphide (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Abdominal pain. Burning sensation. Cough. Dizziness. Lethargy. Headache. Laboured breathing. Nausea. Sore throat.

Redness. Pain.

Convulsions. Diarrhoea. Unconsciousness. Vomiting. Further see Inhalation.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Three groups of symptoms of acute phosphine poisoning /have been/ described ...: (a) nervous symptoms including headache, vertigo, tremors, and unsteady gait, progressing in severe cases to convulsions, coma, and death; (b) gastrointestinal symptoms include loss of appetite, thirst, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe epigastric pain; and (c) respiratory symptoms including a feeling of pressure and pain in the chest as well as shortness of breath. In addition, a sharp fall in blood pressure was described as a characteristic, but seldom-mentioned, symptom. Chronic effects include anemia, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal, speech, and motor disturbances, but these are by no means general. /Phosphine/

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ ... The symptoms of acute poisoning by phosphine /include/ headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, paraethesia, ataxia, tremor, diplopia, myocardial infiltration with necrosis, pulmonary edema, and myocardial and peripheral muscle damage. Laboratory results indicated that there had been urinary tract involvement (occult blood) and levels of several liver enzymes were elevated. /Phosphine/

/GENOTOXICITY/ In a human genotoxicity study ..., an analysis of chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in peripheral lymphocytes in workers was conducted. The following groups were studied: a) workers exposed to phosphine alone; b) workers exposed to phosphine and other pesticides; c) workers exposed to other pesticides and fumigants; d) state grain workers, and; e) controls. Lymphocytes were also exposed to phosphine in vitro at different concn and chromosome aberrations were analyzed at different times after exposure. Male fumigant applicators who, 6 wk to 3 mo earlier, were exposed to phosphine and other pesticides had significantly increased stable chromosome rearrangements, primarily translocations in G-banded lymphocytes. There was no increase in sister chromatid exchanges due to fumigation activities. Less stable aberrations, including chromatid deletions and gaps, were significantly increased only during the application season, but not at this later time point. During fumigant application, measured exposure to phosphine exceeded accepted national standards. /Phosphine/

/GENOTOXICITY/ In an Australian study of workers exposed to phosphine ..., 31 phosphine fumigators and 21 controls ... were examined for micronucleus incidence in peripheral blood lymphocytes and their concentrated urine was assessed for mutagenicity in TA100 and TA98 strains of S. typhimurium. In addition, serum bile acids were measured. The subjects, all males, were matched for medication, X-ray exposure within the past year, and smoking habits. There was no indication how often the fumigators were exposed, the most recent exposure date, or the length of employment of the various fumigators. No individual data were presented to identify if certain individuals showed 28 unusually high micronuclei incidence or presence of mutagens in the urine. For analysis, urine samples were concentrated 75-fold and the /Ames assay/ was used to test mutagenicity to TA100 and TA98 in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9). No increase in the mutagenicity of urine from the fumigators (N = -27) vs controls (N = -19) in this assay was observed. Similarly, no changes related to phosphine exposure were observed in serum bile acids. Cholesterol and some liver enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transferase) were elevated in the exposed group. Micronuclei formation was measured in isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured for 44 hr in the presence of phytohemagglutinin to stimulate mitosis, arrested at metaphase with cytochalasin-B, and harvested by cytocentrifugation after 72 hr in culture. The micronucleus incidence was comparable among the fumigators and the control groups (overall MI for fumigators = 6.9 vs 7.1 for controls). /Phosphine/

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ One mole of aluminum phosphide, potassium phosphide, or sodium phosphide will react rapidly with water or moisture to produce a maximum of one mole of phosphine ... One mole of zinc phosphide, calcium phosphide, magnesium phosphide or strontium phosphide will react rapidly with water or moisture to produce a maximum of two moles of phosphine ... In the absence of appropriate chemical-specific data for the title metal phosphides ... the use of phosphine as a surrogate for the metal phosphides is deemed appropriate because qualitative (clinical signs) and quantitative (phosphine blood level) data suggest that the phosphine hydrolysis product is responsible for acute toxicity from metal phosphides.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ A 90-day inhalation study was conducted with male and female Fischer 344 rats exposed via inhalation to phosphine using the following three different exposure regimens: I) 0, 0.3, 1.0 or 3.0 ppm, 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 13 wk; II) initiated on study Day 48 at 0 or 10 ppm (after 3 days of exposure 4 of 10 females died and therefore this group was terminated); and III) initiated on study Day 75 with additional groups of rats at 0 or 5 ppm for 15 days; exposure was terminated on study Day 90. For each exposure regimen, recovery groups were included in the study and these groups were sacrificed after 4 weeks of post-exposure observations. In the 5 ppm for 15-day exposure regimen (regimen III), there were no treatment-related effects on survival, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmological or hematological parameters. No treatment-related histopathological lesions were seen in either sex .... In rats exposed at 10 ppm for 3 days (regimen II), there was 80% mortality in females but no mortality in males. Both sexes of rats exhibited coagulative necrosis in the tubules of the kidneys and pulmonary congestion was observed in the females that died. A LOEL of 10 ppm for four weeks was based on lethality (80% deaths for females) due to the sharp doseresponse curve for acute toxicity. In the 13-wk exposure regimen (regimen I), there was no mortality in either sex at any concentration tested. There was a transient decrease in body weight gain accompanied by decreased food consumption. Red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit values were slightly decreased in males at 3.0 ppm (at 4 wk only), but no effects were observed in these males at 13 wk or in females at either interval. No exposure-related gross or histologic findings were observed at levels up to and including 3.0 ppm. A LOEL for subchronic exposure (13 wk) was not established in this study. The NOEL was 3 ppm (the HDT). /Phosphine/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Developmental or Reproductive Toxicity/ CD derived Sprague Dawley mated female rats (24-27/dosage group) were exposed in inhalation chambers to concentrations of phosphine ... at 0, 0.03, 0.3, 3.0, 5.0, or 7.5 ppm, 6 hr per day on gestation days 6 through 15. The highest exposure group (7.5 ppm) was terminated after 10 days of exposures due to high mortalities (14/24). Treated females were observed twice daily for toxicity; and bw and food consumption were monitored throughout the study. At day 20 post-coitus, females were sacrificed and examined for corpora lutea, implantations, live and dead fetuses, and early and late resorptions. Pups were identified, sexed, and examined for external malformations and visceral and skeletal defects. The females and their fetuses from the high dose group were not examined for developmental effects. The only abnormalities observed were 25 increased absorptions in litters (16 litters, 76 pups). Increased resorptions were not seen in the 0.3, 3.0, or 5.0 ppm groups. All other observations were comparable to the control females and pups. The maternal NOEL is 5 ppm and the maternal LOEL is 7.5 ppm, based on the high incidence of maternal deaths. /Phosphine/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Neurotoxicity/ 11 Crl:CD BR VAF/Plus rats/sex/exposure group were exposed to 0, 20, 30, or 40 ppm of phosphine (1% a.i. in nitrogen) for 4 hr. Each treatment group was exposed via inhalation on a different day, with the first exposure occurring six days prior to the final exposure. Eleven rats/sex/exposure group were selected for functional observational battery (FOB) and motor activity (MA) testing prior to and following exposure, and on days 7 and 14 post-exposure; six rats/sex/exposure group were perfused for neuropathology. All animals survived to scheduled termination. There were no exposure-related clinical signs. FOB and MA parameters were characterized by variability both within and among control and exposed groups; this variability (which may be partly due to the unbalanced treatment schedule) confounded interpretation of some of the results. Palpebral closure was noted in some exposed groups on day 1 and was significant in females exposed to 30 and 40 ppm and in males at 20 and 40 ppm. Body temperatures were significantly lowered for males and females on day 1 in all exposure groups. The remainder of the differences in the FOB parameters were random statistical variations that occurred both pre- and post-test, were not dose related, or were not consistent between the sexes. Motor activity (horizontal, vertical, total distance, and stereotypic time) was decreased at 20, 30, and 40 ppm, primarily during the 10 and 20 min post-exposure time intervals (data comparing motor activity for the entire 30-min assessment period was neither presented nor analyzed). With one exception, these reductions no longer occurred at 7 or 14 days after exposure. For males during the first 10-min post-exposure interval, horizontal activity decreased significantly by 76.4, 71.7, and 83.8% in the 20, 30, and 40 ppm groups, respectively. Males in the 20 ppm group had the following decreases in horizontal activity: 76.4%, 77.6% (both statistically significant), and 89.4% (non-statistically significant) during the 10, 20, and 30 min intervals, respectively. For females during the first 10-min postexposure interval, horizontal activity decreased significantly by 71.3, 48.0, and 83.5% in the 20, 30, and 40 ppm groups, respectively. Females in the 20 ppm group had the following decreases in horizontal activity: 71.3%, 85.8% (both significant), and 54.1% (non-statistically significant) during the 10, 20, and 30 min intervals, respectively. Similar decreases occurred for both sexes for vertical activity, total distance, and stereotypic time. No phosphine-related neuropathological changes were observed in any exposure group. Significant increases in absolute and relative (body and brain wt) adrenal gland weights in males from the 40 ppm group were of questionable biological significance and did not show a concentration-response relationship. /Phosphine/

/GENOTOXICITY/ In a Salmonella typhimurium reverse gene mutation assay, the test was negative with hydrogen phosphide (PH3) in all strains up to cytotoxic concentrations (> or = 488 ppm/plate +/-S9). /Hydrogen phosphide/

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for Magnesium phosphide (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Magnesium and Related Compounds/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . /Magnesium and Related Compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Consider vasopressors if patient is hypotensive with a normal fluid volume. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Magnesium and Related Compounds/

Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Phosphine and Related Compounds/

For more Antidote and Emergency Treatment (Complete) data for Magnesium phosphide (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Tolerances are established for residues of phosphine in or on the following raw agricultural commodities (RACs) resulting from post-harvest fumigation for the control of insects with phosphine gas or phosphide compounds that produce phosphine gas. /Phosphine/ [Table#7441]

Tolerances are established for residues of the fumigant in or on all RACs resulting from preharvest treatment of pest burrows in agricultural and non-crop land areas. All raw agricultural commodities resulting from preharvest treatment of pest burrows, 0.01 ppm. /Phosphine/

/Tolerances for/ residues resulting from fumigation of processed foods: Processed foods, 0.01 ppm. /Phosphine/

/Tolerances for/ residues resulting from fumigation of animal feed: Animal feed, 0.1 ppm. /Phosphine/

For more FIFRA Requirements (Complete) data for Magnesium phosphide (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Magnesium phosphide

A Commercial Grade

A Placarded Amount

Chemical or material that can be mixed with readily available materials.

Studies on isolated rat liver showed that mitochondrial oxygen uptake was inhibited by phosphine ... and that this effect was due to the reaction of phosphine with cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase ... Although this inhibitory in vitro effect was also shown in insects, it was found that insects severely poisoned with phosphine did not suffer any inhibition of their cytochrome system ... Phosphine was found to inhibit insect catalase though this appeared to be an indirect effect and might have been a result of phosphine toxicity rather than a cause. /Phosphine/

Metal phosphides are hydrolyzed to phosphine and the corresponding metal cation ... In rats, phosphine that is not excreted in the expired air is oxidized and appears in the urine, chiefly as hypophosphite and phosphite ... An unidentified metabolite, detectable by paper chromatography and distinct from pyrophosphate and metaphosphate /was also reported/. The fact that (a) phosphine is incompletely oxidized; and (b) the proportion of an administered dose that is eliminated as expired phosphine increases with the dose suggests that the oxidative pathway is slow.

For magnesium phosphide (USEPA/OPP Pesticide Code: 066504) ACTIVE products with label matches. /SRP: Registered for use in the U.S. but approved pesticide uses may change periodically and so federal, state and local authorities must be consulted for currently approved uses./

Based on its toxicity and use patterns, the Agency is maintaining Restricted Use classification for all aluminum and magnesium phosphide products.

Insecticide; rodenticide

Used as pest control... rodenticide

For more Uses (Complete) data for Magnesium phosphide (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Based on available pesticide survey usage information for 1987 through 1996, estimated annual usage of magnesium phosphide is more than the 2 to 3 thousand pounds active ingredient (a.i.) used in California. (Usage data in terms of pounds a.i. are not available for sites other than in California.)

The simplest method of production is direct combination of the elements at elevated temperature. White, red, or gaseous phosphorus can be used. Some phosphides can be prepared by reaction of phosphine with metals or their salts. Metallic phosphides can also be prepared by the electrothermal reduction of metal oxides in the presence of carbon and phosphates. /Phosphides/

DEGESCH FUMI-CELL/FUMI-STRIP: Active Ingredient 56.0% Magnesium phosphide

DEGESCH MAGTOXIN GRANULES: Active Ingredient 94.6% Magnesium phosphide

DEGESCH MAGTOXIN PREPAC SPOT FUMIGANT: Active Ingredient 66.0% Magnesium phosphide

MAGNAPHOS TABLETS: Active Ingredient 66.0% Magnesium phosphide

For more Formulations/Preparations (Complete) data for Magnesium phosphide (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Magnesium phosphide (Mg3P2): ACTIVE

... Magnesium phosphide reacts with the moisture in the atmosphere to produce phosphine gas which is the substance that is active as a pesticide.

The annual world production of aluminum phosphide and magnesium phosphide together amounts to approximately 3,000 tons.