Key Points

Fire

• Gas, extremely flammable and spontaneously flammable in air
• Reacts violently with air, oxygen, halogens and other oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard
• Decomposes on heating or burning, releasing toxic phosphorus oxides fumes
• In the event of a fire involving phosphine, use fine water spray and liquid-tight chemical protective clothing and breathing apparatus

Health

• Extremely flammable
• Very toxic by inhalation; symptoms usually occur within a few hours of exposure
• Phosphine is irritating to the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, throat and respiratory tract
• Inhalation may result in weakness, chest pain and tightness, dry mouth, cough, sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea, chills, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, ataxia, confusion and lung damage (may develop 2-3 days after exposure)
• Severe poisoning may result in increased heart rate, low blood pressure, convulsions, coma, heart damage and death, usually within 4 days but may be delayed up to 1-2 weeks
• Ocular or dermal exposure may cause irritation
• Chronic exposure may cause anaemia, bronchitis, gastrointestinal, speech and motor problems, toothache, weakness, weight loss, swelling and damage of the jaw bone and spontaneous fractures
• Phosphine is not considered to be mutagenic in vivo and has not been associated with cancer
• Phosphine is not likely to cause reproductive or developmental effects

Environment

• Dangerous for the Environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial release incidents

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