Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed has ordered a crackdown on traders using illegal pesticides containing the deadly aluminum phosphide to fumigate homes.

The Civil Defense in Jeddah recently arrested an expatriate after finding him in possession of phosphide he used in a home. This resulted in the poisoning of a Saudi man and his son who had to be rushed to the hospital. The substance has caused several deaths in Jeddah over the past few years.

Sami Badawood, director of the Jeddah health department, said that Prince Mishaal called an emergency meeting of various city departments to study the pesticide poisoning case and punish those who sold the substance. The prince also called for the administration to beef up awareness programs to warn the public about the dangers of the chemical.

He ordered inspectors to confiscate all pesticides containing aluminum phosphide sold locally, the official added.

The man arrested by the Civil Defense was handed over to the police. The Civil Defense was later forced to bear the cost of moving nine families to alternative accommodation to prevent exposure to the harmful substance.

Inorganic pesticide aluminum phosphide is primarily used as a fumigant against insects and as rat poison in closed areas such as silos, large containers and cargo ships. It cannot be used to kill household pests.

Used as an insecticide, aluminum phosphide interacts with water in the air to form phosphine gas. As little as 3 ml or a 1-gram pill can kill a child if inhaled.

Phosphine gas is toxic, flammable and colorless. Pure phosphine is odorless but technical samples have a foul smell akin to garlic or rotting fish.