OK, I have a friend that works at a grain storage facility and they use PhosFume in the storage of the wheat, etc ... in the grain bins, these pellets are 9.5 mm in diamter, weigh 0.6 grams and release 0.2 grams of phosphine gas, the ingredients are Aluminum Phosphide & Ammonium Carbamate, I believe this works like CO2 and removes the oxygen, replaces it with the gas Carbon Dioxide, therefore killing all possible infestation, my question is --- how would this work, dropping 1 1 pellet in your 5 gallon sealed bucket of beans, rice, cornmeal, flour, etc .... and is it safe to eat, I know not to breathe and inhale the gases it produces, thanks for any help you can provide me with on this ......

-- Charles Tomberlin (shot@perigee.net), August 17, 1999

Answers

Mistake of a keystroke, I meant -- 1 pellet per 5 gallon -- not 1 1 ....

-- Charles Tomberlin (shot@perigee.net), August 17, 1999.

Please be really careful with that stuff until you get COMPLETE information on it. Your buddy should photocopy the "material safety data sheet" on it (his employer must have it (by law) in a clearly marked binder, somewhere in the work area) for you. I personally would not use it. There are much safer alternatives like CO2, o2 absorbers, D.E. (not pool filter type), etc.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), August 17, 1999.

Charles, Hi!...DON'T use it unless you know all about it! I did a search using ASK JEEVES, and it scared the **** out of me, and I grew up on a farm where we used chemicals for grain fumigants on a regular basis, never used this one though!!!

Here is a URL: http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Plaza/8603/label_man.html

there are a lot more if you will search...

\/\/illis in OKC, OK

-- \/\/illis (RAYMONDO@prodigy.net), August 17, 1999.

Hey, got ahold of the info book on this stuff and it sounds dangerous, it says not to put directly on processed foods BUT to fumigate them, now, how do you fumigate with these pellets ????? Thanks .....

-- Charles Tomberlin (shot@perigee.net), August 18, 1999.

Charles,

I am confused here, what part of the above warnings don't you GET?!!! This stuff is deadly and designed for commercial applications only and supposed to be used by trained personnel. REMEMBER this does not make it "better" it just simply "is" used by them. Chances are pretty good that the grain you bought has already been fumigated before and if it appears clean then pack it up with safer methods.

Talk about disconnect: You are prepping for a possible food shortage (fairly slight risk of that though I also am prepping) but are WILLING TO KNOWINGLY TAKE AN UNNECCESSARY STEP WHICH IS EXTREMELY RISKY???????? Sorry for the rant but I guess I just don't "get it". Sigh.....

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), August 18, 1999.