A three-year-old girl from the vicinity of Grodzisk Wielkopolski and a two-year-old girl from the vicinity of Tomaszów Lubelski have died, and nine-year-old twin girls from near Płońsk are in hospital. Investigators are checking whether the rodent control agent was the cause of the tragedy. In “Attention!” TVN about how mouse or rat poisons can be deadly to humans.
An investigation is underway into the poisoning of nine-year-old twins from the Płońsk area in October. According to the prosecutor's office, a rodent control agent had been spread in the field earlier.
Just a few days ago, a two-year-old from Tomaszów Lubelski died. Rodent repellent was also allegedly used in the basement of the boy's house.
READ ALSO: They spread the mouse killer. A three-year-old girl is dead, her sister and mother are in hospital
The tragedy near Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Investigators are also explaining the circumstances of the death of a three-year-old girl from the area of Grodzisk Wielkopolski. The child with symptoms of poisoning was transported to the hospital in Nowy Tomyśl. He couldn't be saved. The girl's mother and her sister were also sent to the facility.
– When firefighters arrived at the site, measuring devices showed a very high concentration of phosphine. For this reason, they started airing the house. And they started finding pills of a preparation that was used as a preparation against rodents – says junior inspector. Andrzej Borowiak, spokesman for the Provincial Police Commander in Poznań. The agent was used outside the building.
– The pills of this preparation were placed in various nooks and crannies of the external façade, or rather the Styrofoam boards with which the house was covered – explains junior inspector. Andrzej Borowiak.
A deadly agent against moles and voles
We asked Krzysztof Karkoszka, an experienced rodent control specialist, a specialist in disinfection, disinfestation and rodent control, how such a tragedy and the death of a three-year-old girl could have occurred.
– It is a preparation based on aluminum phosphide, which, when combined with water vapor in the air or soil, emits deadly phosphine, we hear. The preparation has the highest degree of toxicity.
– Several breaths may cause respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. As a result, we have damage to the heart muscle, nervous system, kidneys and liver – says the “Uwagi” interlocutor.
– When using this measure, all of us protect ourselves with suits. We are wearing protective masks and appropriate filters, the man explains. – This is a chemical weapon – says the expert.
Who can use toxic rodenticides?
A person who wants to use such a preparation must undergo training followed by an exam. – You then receive a certificate authorizing you to purchase and use such a product – says the expert.
– If it had been controlled and not allowed to be sold as it is now, I doubt that what has happened would have happened – says the “Uwaga” interlocutor.
The preparation for rodents is most often available in the form of tablets, which release deadly phosphine on contact with moisture.
On Tuesday, our reporter tried to buy the drug in several stationary stores. The sellers asked whether he had the appropriate qualifications and warned about the dangers associated with using the preparation. However, the dangerous drug is still available on the Internet. When we tried to buy it, it turned out that no one checked whether we had undergone appropriate training and had the appropriate qualifications required by law.
Main photo source: “Uwaga” TVN