Aluminum phosphide in the yard and garden

What is aluminum phosphide?

The IUPAC name is Aluminum monophosphide.

Also known as: Aluminum monophosphide, Phostoxin, Fumitoxin, Aluminium monophosphide.

IUPAC name

Aluminum monophosphide

CAS number

20859-73-8

Molecular formula

AlP

Molecular weight

57.96 g/mol

SMILES

[Al+3].[P-3]

PubChem CID

16126812

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Aluminum phosphide. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where your yard encounter aluminum phosphide

• grain storage fumigant
• agricultural pest control
• warehouse fumigation

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Aluminum phosphide:

• Sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane)
  Trade-offs: No insecticidal residue (good for food safety). Extremely potent GHG (4,780× CO₂). Poor efficacy against insect eggs.
  Relative cost: 2-3×
• Controlled atmosphere (CO₂ or N₂ displacement)
  Trade-offs: Requires sealed storage. Slower kill time (days vs hours). Higher infrastructure cost.
  Relative cost: Higher capital, lower operating

Frequently asked questions