Philippines

What is zinc phosphide?
Zinc phosphide is an inorganic compound that combines phosphorus with zinc. It is used in rodenticide baits. When an animal eats the bait, the acid in the animal's stomach turns the zinc phosphide into phosphine. Phosphine is a very toxic gas. Phosphine is also released by aluminum phosphide and magnesium phosphide. These are used as fumigants in stored grain.

Zinc phosphide has been registered for use in pesticide products in the United States since 1947.

What are some products that contain zinc phosphide?
Zinc phosphide is only used as a rodenticide. It is made into bait that will attract the pest, such as gophers, ground squirrels, or field mice. There are over 80 products containing zinc phosphide registered for use in the United States

How does zinc phosphide work?
When zinc phosphide is eaten by either an animal or a person, stomach acid causes it to release the toxic gas phosphine. Baits containing zinc phosphide are especially dangerous to animals that cannot vomit, such as rats, mice, and rabbits.

The phosphine in the stomach then crosses into the body's cells, and stops the cells from producing energy. This causes the cells to die. Zinc phosphide affects all cells, but targets cells in the heart, lungs, and liver.