Poisoning with phosphorus

Brzezinski J. 1972. Effect of poisoning with phosphorus organic insecticides on the catechol amine levels in rat plasma, brain, and adrenals. Dissertationes Pharmaceuticae et Pharmacologicae 24 217- 220. 

Wysocka-Paruszewska B. 1970. Urine level of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid in urine of rats poisoned with phosphorus organic insecticides. Dissertationes Pharmaceuticae et Pharmacologicae 22 485-489. 

As mentioned above, to apply to insects a conclusion drawn directly from tests on mammals may sometimes be misleading.3 For instance, American cockroaches have a remarkably high tolerance for acetylcholine,4 but, on the other hand, a substance showing some of the pharmacological properties of acetylcholine does accumulate in flies and cockroaches poisoned with D.D.T. Similarly, Hopf, working with locusts, was unable to demonstrate any increase in toxicity of eserine or T.E.P.P. resulting from the subsequent injection of acetylcholine. From this, Lord and Potter infer that acetylcholine may not be directly involved in the insecticidal action of organo-phosphorus compounds, either because the enzymes which hydrolyse acetylcholine are not inhibited to any considerable extent in vivo or because the functions performed by acetylcholine in mammals are performed by another substance in insects. 

We synthesized EPMP, by the method of Fukuto and Metcalf ( ) by reacting diethyl methylphosphonate with phosphorus penta-chlorlde, followed by reaction with sodium -nltrophenolate. EPMP was purified by distillation at reduced pressure. Analysis for C9H12NO5P. Calculated % C, 44.1 % H, 4.93 % N, 5.71. Found % C, 43.9 % H, 4.77 % N, 4.59. [Caution EPMP Is a VERY TOXIC NERVE POISON the subcutaneous lethal dose (LD50) In mice is 350 pg/kg (R. Howd, R. Kenley, unpublished), and the material should be handled with extreme care at all times.]... 

Hann RG and Veale RA. 1910. A fatal case of poisoning by phosphorus, with unusual subcutaneous hemorrhages. Lancet 1 163-164. 

Matsumoto S, Kohri Y, Tanaka K. 1972. A case of acute phosphorus poisoning with various electrocardiographic changes. Jpn Circ J 36 963-970. 

Newburger RA, Beaser SB, Shwachman H. 1948. Phosphorus poisoning with recovery accompanied by electrocardiographic changes. Am J Med 4 927-930. 

Soon this boy added chemistry to hie list of hobbies. Through his father he met a friend who had a rich library and a private chemical laboratory where he obtained permission to work. He built voltaic piles out of zinc plates and some old Russian copper coins he had collected. The master of the German mint presented him with an old furnace in which, with the aid of his sister to blow the bellows, he would build a roaring fire. And while he experimented he burned his fingers with phosphorus, and on another occasion was almost killed when a flask containing poisonous chlorine cracked in his hands. 

The direct replacement of an oxygen, particularly in a carbonyl group, by sulfur is readily achieved by treatment with phosphorus pentasulfide. This is a rather unpleasant reagent, however, since it is readily flammable and upon storage, particularly in a damp atmosphere, it slowly releases the highly poisonous and malodorous hydrogen sulfide. In Protocol 18 typical conditions for its use are illustrated in the synthesis of the chiral thiazoline 74 from the benzoylamino alcohol 73. 

Sulfur, Phosphorus, and Arsenic Compounds. Sulfur, occasionally present in synthesis gases from coal or heavy fuel oil, is more tightly bound on iron catalysts than oxygen. For example, catalysts partially poisoned with hydrogen sulfide cannot be regenerated under the conditions of industrial ammonia synthesis. Compounds of phosphorus and arsenic are poisons but are not generally present in industrial synthesis gas. There are... 

SAFETY PROFILE A poison. Flammable by spontaneous chemical reaction, air, moisture, or acid fumes may cause it to ignite. For explosion and disaster hazards, see SULFIDES. To fight fire, use CO2, dry chemical. Reacts violently with phosphorus(V) oxide. Mixtures with lead dioxide, potassium chlorate, or potassium nitrite explode when heated. Incompatible with CI2O, Ca(N03)2, Sr(N03)2, Ca(C103)2, Sr(C103)2, (C103)2. See also BARIUM COMPOUNDS (soluble) and SULFIDES. 

SAFETY PROFILE Poison by intravenous route. Mildly toxic by inhalation. Human systemic effects by inhalation hallucinations. Narcotic in high concentrations. A volatile, flammable liquid when exposed to heat or flame. Can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. Moderately explosive when exposed to heat or flame. Violent reaction with phosphorus + chlorine. To fight fire, use foam, CO2, dr) chemical. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. 

DOT CLASSIFICATION 6.1 Label Poison SAFETY PROFILE Poison by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by skin contact. A powerful oxidizer. Explodes on contact with red-hot carbon. Mixtures with phosphorus are impact-sensitive explosives. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of Hg and NOx. 

Slight explosion hazard in the form of dust when exposed to flame. Can react violently with air, halogens, N2. Violent reaction with phosphorus above 400°C. Many of its compounds are poisons. See also RARE EARTHS and various neodymium compounds. 

DOT CLASSIFICATION 8 Label Corrosive SAFETY PROFILE A very poisonous material that is also corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Violent reaction with water. Vigorous reaction with phosphorus. When heated to decomposition it emits ver " toxic fumes of CL and SOx. See also CHLOROSULFONIC ACID. 

These catalysts are extremely sensitive to catalyst poisons, which reduce chemisorption of hydrogen and nitrogen on the active surfaces of the catalyst and thereby reduce its activity. Gaseous oxygen-, sulfur-, phosphorus-and chlorine compounds, such as water, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, the latter being reduced to water under ammonia synthesis conditions, are particularly troublesome in this regard. Catalyst poisoned with oxide compounds can be reactivated by reduction with pure synthesis gas. 

The catalytic activity of fine nickel metal is very much reduced and modified when prepared by SHOP or the cation-exchange method, as shown in the previous sections. The partial poisoning of the nickel catalyst with phosphorus compounds brings about almost the same effect. These facts suggest the possible formation of specific and mild active sites of nickel, if nickel metal makes an alloy with phosphorus. 

Much of Porton s work in India involved smoke trials with phosphorus bombs, which Allied forces planned to employ against Japanese bunker installations. Another major component was field trials with poison gas. In general, British and Indian nationals were exposed to liquid mustard gas or lewisite to assess the effects of the agents on human skin and on eyes under different climatic conditions, to examine the susceptibility of different skin types, and to develop new types of treatment. Tests conducted between 1942 and 1943 produced a large number of casualties among Indian and British soldiers who suffered from severe burns, were often very miserable and depressed and in considerable discomfort . ... 

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