Misapplication of ‘bomb’ agrochemical causing havoc in households

The harmful misapplication of the poisonous chemical is negatively impacting people’s health, recently killing three young siblings at Asawase in Ashanti Region.  They are probably the worst insect enemy and a nuisance in any household.  Bedbug infestations in homes, schools, offices and other places leave many people with sleepless nights and consequent evacuation from comfort.  Treating the “stubborn” insect infestation has come with many chemical and biological solutions.   A popular treatment in some Ghanaian homes currently is the application of aluminum phosphide, known locally as “bomb”, a highly lethal chemical compound.

Juliet Daneku was introduced to the chemical application by a friend when bedbugs became her new tenants.  “A friend introduced me to it.

The chemical comes under various brand names on the market including Baktoxin, Topstoxin and Bextoxin.

But it appears many households are using the chemical for the wrong purposes.  On December 28, 2023, three young siblings at Asawase in the Ashanti region died from suspected poisoning from the application of the chemical in their room.  This is one of the at least five death cases resulting from exposure to the toxic compound recorded over the last 5 years.   The chemical releases a highly toxic phosphine gas in the presence of moisture.  Although the compound is said to be efficacious against the insect, it poses a deleterious effect on the human body.  Symptoms of Phosphine gas exposure include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal distress, and trouble breathing.  In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered the withdrawal of all pesticides containing Alumnimum Phosphide, due to their misapplication.  An agrochemical vendor revealed the products until their withdrawal from the markets were only sold to customers who hailed from neighbouring countries.

“We used to sell to customers from Burkina Faso

But recently, I’ve realized some shops sell to people,” he said. Meanwhile, some agrochemical vendors are calling for the ban of the product.  “We used to have another chemical, which was harmless

We must come together and stop importing them,” he said. While a number of deaths have been recorded from the misuse of the chemical, it still remains one of the cheapest wrongfully applied treatments for bedbug infestations.