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EPA AND ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATE ALLEGED MISUSE OF PESTICIDE

Release Date: 01/24/2002
Contact Information: Carl Terry (404) 562-8325

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cooperating with the Enterprise Police Department to investigate the alleged misuse of a pesticide that may have caused the death of two individuals in their home in Enterprise, Alabama. The pesticide product believed to have been used contains Aluminum Phosphide, which when exposed to air produces deadly phosphine gas. This product may be extremely dangerous if applied without certain safeguards. Pesticides containing Aluminum Phosphide should only be used by persons who have been trained and are licensed or certified for its use. Pesticides containing Aluminum Phosphide cannot be used safely by the general public. If a pesticide containing Aluminum Phosphide is not properly stored or used it may burst into flames. Persons exposed to pesticides containing Aluminum Phosphide may experience nausea, vomiting, chest pain, dizziness, and unconsciousness at very low levels and death at higher concentrations. Pesticides containing Aluminum Phosphide are used to control insects and rodents in a variety of settings, but are used mainly at facilities where grain and other commodities are transported, processed, and stored. Pesticides containing Aluminum Phosphide come in a variety of forms, but most frequently are found in tablet forms about the size of a dime or pellet forms which are smaller than a dime. These products must not be used to treat indoor residential pest problems. Pesticides and their use are regulated by state and federal law. Specifically, pesticides are registered or licensed by EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. As part of the registration process, EPA establishes directions for the use of each pesticide. Those directions specify how and when the product may be used and are provided to the user on the pesticide label. Use of any pesticide in a manner which is not consistent with the label directions is unlawful. Pesticides which are not in their original container or which do not have labels containing directions for use should never be accepted or used. Anyone who believes that they are in possession of these pesticide products should immediately notify the Enterprise Police Department at 334-347-2222 or the United States Environmental Protection Agency at 1-800-241-1764. The following are some of the commercially available pesticide products which contain Aluminum Phosphide and are currently available for sale to persons holding appropriate licences for their use. (1) Degesch Phostoxin Pellets (2) Degesch Phostoxin Prepac Rope (3) Degesch Phostoxin Tablet Prepac (4) Degesch Phostoxin Tablets-R (5) Detia Fumex (6) Fumiphos 60% Aluminum Phosphide Bags (7) Fumiphos 60% Aluminum Phosphide Tablets (8) Fumiphos 60% Aluminum Phosphide Pellets (9) Fumitoxin Bags (10) Fumitoxin Pellets (11) Fumitoxin Tablets (12) Gastoxin Fumigation Pellets (13) Gastoxin Fumigation Sachets (14) Gastoxin Fumigation Tablets (15) Quik-Fume Pellets (16) Quik-Fume Bags (17) Quik-Fume Tablets (18) Tri-Tox 55% Pellets (19) Tri-Tox 55% Tablets