Hazards fluoroacetate

Byrd, G.V., G.T. McClellan, and J.P. Fuller. 1988. To Determine the Efficacy and Environmental Hazards of Compound 1080 (Sodium Fluoroacetate) as a Control Agent for Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) on Kiska Island, Aleutians Islands Unit — Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AIU-AMNWR) (Field Investigations). Unpublished final progress report by AIU-AMNWR. 22 pp. 

It should be stressed that we are not yet aware of all the hazards in connexion with the use of sodium fluoroacetate, or indeed of any compounds containing the FCH2CO group, as insecticides. 

Fluoroacetate, also known as compound 1080, sodium monofluoroacetate (SMFA), and sodium fluoroacetate, is one of the most toxic substances known. In the past. It was used primarily as a rodenticide by licensed pest control companies, but It has been removed from the US market because of its hazard. (However, it is still used as packets attached to sheep to poison wolves and coyotes that kill and ingest the sheep.) It is a tasteless, odorless, water-soluble white crystalline powder. Fluoroac-etamide (compound 1081) is a similar compound with similar toxicity. 

Fluoroacetic acid occurs in a South African plant Dkhapetalum, and has killed many cattle in that country. The toxic action of fluoroacetic acid does not depend on any chemical reactivity on the part of fluorine, but on the small size of the fluorine atom (Table 9.1) (Bartlett and Barron, 1947), which deceives the earlier, poorly discriminating enzymes into treating it as a hydrogen atom whereas the later enzymes have more inbuilt precision. Fluoroacetic acid, which is used to exterminate rabbits in their burrows, is not very selective and presents a hazard to human beings. 

SODIUM FLUOROACETATE CH OONs low. Sodium mono-flttoroacctale, SFA None hazardous Not combustible ... 

Although fluoroacetic acid is being used to exterminate rabbits, its selectivity is not high, and hence it presents a hazard to human beings. 

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