Fumigation with phosphine

Phosphine as fumigant must be carried out by properly trained and qualified staff. It is generaly policy that wherever possible this is contracted to a reputable, registered pest control company.

In generaly operations, it is recommended that phosphine-releasing preparations should be used only for the fumigation with phosphine of unmanufactured comodity.

Measuring the phosphine concentration shows you whether the fumigation enclosure is sufficiently gas-tight. At the end of a 7 day fumigation if temperatures are above 25 Celcius's degrees, or a 10 day fumigation at temperatures between 15 and 25 Celcius's degrees, the concentration should still be at least 500 ppm to kill all stages and prevent development of resistance. You can measure phosphine concentration with a hand pump and gas detector tube. Several companies sell suitable gear and prices vary.

(source “Insect pests in stored grain” Eric Sinclair and Graham White (QI90021),“Storing, handling & drying grain: A management guide for farms ” by Alan Andrews and Troy Jensen (QI 96081).