JIST

Abstract

India being agricultural country the use of metal phosphides is very common specially aluminium phosphide as a grain preservative and zinc phosphide as a rodenticide. These are also misused as suicidal or homicidal poisoning agents. For this study 11 cases of alleged fatal phosphide poisoning received at AIIMS Mortuary were chosen. The rate of metabolism was observed based on the history given by relatives and Police Investigating officer during Post-mortem examination. Solubility of AlP and ZnP was analysed under control conditions on standards. The cause of death is the liberation of phosphine gas in both but mortality rate is very high in aluminium phosphide as compared to zinc phosphide because of various factors like chemical composition, solubility, rate of reaction, and other physical and chemical properties. As these are the lurking danger at rural homes in India, so awareness regarding the precautions to be taken for their use and storage need be spread.