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Rat Poison & Its Effect on Infants

Rats are a health danger in the environment. However, destroying these creatures can often involve toxic chemicals.

  1. Diseases Carried by Rats

    • According to the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management, the common diseases spread by rats are typhus, trichinosis (a parasite), salmonellosis (a type of food poisoning), and ratbite fever. Other diseases are leptospirosis (a rare bacterial disease) and bubonic plague.

    Organic Rodenticides: Coumarins and Indandiones

    • Coumarins are substances found naturally and in safe amounts in strawberries, apricots, cherries, lavender, celery, and cinnamon, if this produce is fresh and unspoiled. The chemicals help the plant to repel insects. However, coumarins can be dangerous. Farmers discovered these poisons when their cattle ate rotting hay and died from unexplained hemorrhaging. Coumarins are powerful blood-thinning chemicals that do not allow blood to clot. The smallest scratch is potentially fatal because wounds continue to bleed unchecked. Sometimes, doctors use coumarins as medicine that must be carefully monitored. Warfarin, a coumarin, is prescribed as an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attacks. The chemical is also used as a common rodenticide to kill mice and rats. It is an accumulative and slow-acting poison that causes rodents to die from internal bleeding. Warfarin, according to the University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign Carle Cancer Center, takes 48 hours to take effect in humans. Problems with warfarin can include skin rash and skin necrosis (skin death), diarrhea, hepatitis, abdominal pain, and nausea. Recent studies from the University of Chicago have found that warfarin causes bleeding brain strokes.
      Indandiones also act in the same manner as coumarins with anticoagulant properties. Pregnant women should not take indandiones and coumarins because the chemicals cause fetal anomalies.

    Rodenticides: Inorganic Poisons

    • Thallium sulfate is a heavy metal salt, due to its toxicity, that is only sold for professional pest control use. The chemical has been banned as a rodenticide in the U.S. since 1972 but is still in use in underdeveloped countries. The August 2005 issue of the Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine states that thallium sulfate is a byproduct of coal, smelting (primarily lead and zinc) cement, and cadmium manufacturing. Poisoning symptoms include damage to the nervous system, anorexia (severe weight loss), and cardiac disorders. Yellow phosphorous is a corrosive chemical and damages all body organs that it touches. Zinc phosphide is less corrosive but can damage the lungs.

    Rodenticides: Convulsants

    • Crimidine, strychnine, and sodium fluroroacetate and fluroracetamide are convulsants. The chemicals act on the heart and nervous systems through heart arrhythmia and interruption of breathing. According to information from the University of Missouri, as little as 15 mg of strychnine can kill a child.

    Warning

    • Let trained pesticide workers use poisons to eliminate rats. Do not attempt to diagnosis or treat suspected poisoning on your own. Any case of actual or suspected poisoning requires immediate professional medical intervention. Take a child who you suspect of ingesting poisons to the emergency room.

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