Familial Poisoning by Phosphine

Lethal intoxications with phosphine belong to rare cases in Poland. Most frequently they involve suicidal intake of metal phospides and accidental intoxications due to gas inhalation. The case of acute intoxication with phosphine in presented, affecting two persons: a 14-month-old child, who died, and the surviving mother. The intoxication took place on a farm and phosphine was released from toxic aluminium phosphide, a component of Quickphos Pellets 56GE preparation, widely used for disinsection of empty facilities for storage of grain and other alimentary products. Autopsy of the 14-month-old child demonstrated cerebral edema and pulmonary edema and excluded other pathology as the cause of death. Toxicological tests demonstrated only elevated levels of phosphorus. The entire clinical pattern of intoxication permitted to conclude that the cause of 14-month-old child’s death involved acute intoxication with phosphine, in the mother a subacute intoxication with phosphine was diagnosed. The survival of the mother and death of her 14-month-old child reflected their very different body weight and distinct resistance to toxic effect of phosphine.