A Luv News investigation has uncovered new misuses and misuses of popular pesticide products in the Ghanaian market.
Aluminum phosphide, known locally as “bomb,” is a deadly substance originally used to kill pests in storing crops such as corn and beans, but is now being used to fumigate bed bugs. It is actively used at home.
The harmful misuse of this toxic chemical is having a negative impact on people’s health, most recently resulting in the death of three young siblings in Asawase, Ashanti Region.
They are probably the biggest enemy of insects and a nuisance in any household.
When a home, school, office, or other location is infested with bed bugs, many people spend sleepless nights and end up evacuating their comfort zone.
Treating “stubborn” insect infestations requires a number of chemical and biological solutions.
Currently, a popular treatment in some Ghanaian households is the application of aluminum phosphide, a highly lethal compound known locally as “bomb.”
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Juliette Danek was introduced to the chemical by a friend when bed bugs became her new home.
“A friend introduced me. I bought a full container and applied it to my room. Me and the kids were not sold in the room for 4 days. We slept in a nearby church. It’s dangerous, so if you open it, it will make a cracking sound.”
This chemical is on the market under a variety of brand names, including Bactoxin, Toptoxin, and Bextoxin.
It is sold in pill form in a vial, and each container contains nearly 100 tablets.
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This pesticide was originally used to control insect eggs and larvae during preservation and storage of crops such as green beans and corn weevils.
However, many households seem to be using this chemical for the wrong purposes.
On December 28, 2023, three young siblings died in Asawase, Ashanti Region, due to suspected poisoning caused by the application of chemicals in their room.
This is one of at least five deaths from exposure to the toxic compound recorded in the past five years.
This chemical releases highly toxic phosphine gas in the presence of moisture.
Although this compound is said to be effective against insects, it has negative effects on humans.
Symptoms of exposure to phosphine gas include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal problems, and difficulty breathing.
In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered the end of all pesticides containing aluminum phosphide due to misuse.
The pesticide vendor revealed that its products were only sold to customers in neighboring countries until it was withdrawn from the market.
However, the product is still on the market.
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“We were selling to customers from Burkina Faso. We were not selling to the Ghanaian market. But recently we noticed that some stores were selling to people,” he said. said.
Meanwhile, some pesticide distributors are calling for their products to be banned.
“We used to use a different chemical and it was harmless. But this is dangerous. Companies producing for the market must stop. We must come together and stop imports. It has to stop,” he said.
Although numerous deaths have been recorded due to the misuse of this chemical, it remains one of the cheapest treatments unfairly applied for bed bug infestations.
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