Sodium fluoroacetate

A deadly human poison by ingestion. Experimental poison by ingestion, skin contact, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and intravenous routes. A very highly toxic water-soluble salt used mainly as an immediate-action rodenticide. It is absorbed rapidly by the gastrointestinal tract but slowly by the skin unless the skin is abraded or cut. It operates by blocking the Krebs cycle by formation of fluorocitric acid, which inhibits aconitase. It has an effect on either the cardiovascular or nervous system, or both, in all species and, in some species, the skeletal muscles. Humans have mixed responses, with the cardiac feature predominating. By a direct action on the heart, contractile power is lost, which leads to declining blood pressure. Ventricular premature contractions and arrhythmias are seen in all species, including humans. The central nervous system is directly attacked by sodium fluoroacetate. In humans, the action on the central nervous system produces epileptiform convulsive seizures followed by severe depression. The dangerous dose for humans is 0.5–2 mg/kg. Other species vary considerably in their response to this material, with primates and birds being the most resistant and carnivora and rodents being the most susceptible. Most domestic animals show a susceptibility falling between the two extremes indicated above. Experimental reproductive effects. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of Na2O and F−.