*WARNING* Poisonous canisters on Far Northern beaches

[Danack]

Something else to watch out for.

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/10/26/235694_local-news.html

Poisonous canisters continue to wash up on Far Northern beaches

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug: What are the used for ? seems strange to get them washed up on a beach at Cairns ?
Scary stuff.
Brian.

[Danack]

Poison!

Apparently when you see a house bagged up for fumigation, this is one of the chemicals that can be used.

[MikeyB]

Aluminium phosphide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_phosphide#Pesticide) is used as a rodenticide, insecticide, and fumigant for stored cereal grains. It is generally sold as a grey-green-yellow powder. Aluminium phosphide reacts with water or acids to release Phosphine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphine), which [as the report says], is a colorless, flammable, toxic gas. (Source, Wikipedia)

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug::help: then whats it doing washing up on Cairns beaches ? something sinister I think ?
Brian.

[joe_smith]

found this reply on the news site about it that might explain why.