And now for somelthing completely different: a question about rat poison

[hmpf]

Okay, I realise this sounds a bit alarming after last night's/today's posts ;-) but the point of this post is to *avoid* poisoning myself, honest.

Here's the situation: this winter, we had a mouse problem in our flat. We tried everything, and everything we tried failed, so our landlord, who travels to India a lot on business, and swears by Indian rat poison in cases like this, got us two tabs of rat poison from India. I don't know how exactly my flatmates used it, because it happened while I was staying with my parents during my thesis writing period, but when I returned, there was a bucket full of saucers and teacups containing rat poison residue in the pantry. (Incidentally, the mouse was entirely unimpressed by the rat poison and lived happily ever after, as far as we can tell. It *finally* seems to have left the flat now, though - months after the rat poison maneuvre - because it's getting warm outside now. We haven't been finding droppings for a while.)

Nobody was very eager to clean the contaminated crockery for months, but today somebody apparently did, because the bucket is gone and the saucers and cups are drying on the rack.

Now, my question: do you think it's safe to use these, considering that there may still be trace amounts of rat poison on them? I'd hate to throw away perfectly usable crockery; on the other hand, I'd hate even more for us to accidentally poison ourselves...

Comments

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

Well, it would come handy to know which kind of poison was, as there are many, some of them quite dangerous.
If they were what are called "anticoagulant rodenticides", and you are able to boil your crockery, you should be ok.
But porous pottery could retain poison residues, and, if they have arsenic (which is still used on some of them, is a big NO.

Eeeek.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Right, now I'm even more scared...

Well, impossible to tell what kind of poison it was, as it's long gone. (I could ask my landlord, though.)

It's not porous crockery, btw - just regular, smooth-surfaced porcelain.

What has me worried a bit now, in addition to the saucers and stuff, is this: I did a load of dishes today, after the anonymous flatmate cleaned the rat poison dishes. I used a new sponge for the cleaning, but, obviously, the same sink. Can I safely use the dishes I washed, or is that a no-no now, too? In that case, I've just ruined the majority of my good porcelain.

Re: Eeeek.

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

No, you can safely use the sink, because there is no chance for poison get "stuck" in it.
And if boil your crockery, then, you are safe. Most of modern rat poison are not really dangerous to people, but, as you landlord was talking about some really strong one, well... maybe is not one of the safes one. You should ask him, just to be on the safe side.
And damn! I used safe a lot in this... I must work in my synonyms :)

Re: Eeeek.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Right. I think I'll take most of the crockery to my parents, who have a dishwasher (those usually use boiling hot water, right?), and boil the non-dishwasher safe stuff separately.

But you said if it was a poison that contains arsenic, then boiling wouldn't be enough?

I've done some more research and found that all kinds of chemical compounds are used as rat poison. Sadly, I haven't been able to find any information about 'safe' doses for any of these. What can be left on those saucers can't be much, really - just trace amounts; so it would be really helpful to know if those trace amounts are still dangerous.

I think I need an expert to put this question to, but I don't know who would be an expert on rat poison... especially on Indian rat poison! A pharmacologist, maybe?

Re: Eeeek.

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

Arsenic is dangerous because is accumulative, and it is used in some rat poisons, because well, it actually kill the rats.
But boiling a not porous crockery should be enough. And you should ask to some chemical expert more than a pharmacologist.
But either way, you need to find which poison are we talking about.
Also, your angsty face makes me feel sad :(

Re: Eeeek.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I already tried to contact my landlord, actually, but - surprise - he's in India. *sigh*

Hmm... where do I *find* a chemical expert? Do they have forums like fen do? ;-)

Sorry about the angsty face! Sad!Sam makes me happy, probably because I'm weird... *g*

Re: Eeeek.

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe he'll bring some of that poison, and then, even if he has no clue about its components, you'll be able to take it to a pharmacologist and ask for an analyze.
And I believe they probably have. Everybody has forums. There's any University around? With Chemistry classes? Because you could ask there.
And I was kidding about the angsty!Sam. I love angsty/in pain/tortured Sam. I'm a sick puppy *sad sigh* *tries to keep a straight face* *fails* *bursts in laughs*

Here, have some angsty!Sam!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

;-) I really have to get back to writing all my mega-angsty LoM fic...

Hmm, yeah, maybe I'll just call someone at the university, some prof, if need be. At least they should be able to tell me who I can contact about this, hopefully.

I don't think my landlord will bring rat poison from India this time, though - for that, he would have to know that we are having a problem. But I can't contact him, so he doesn't know. Also, who knows if whatever he'd bring this time *really* is the same he brought last time...

Re: Here, have some angsty!Sam!

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

Oh, YES! Please and thank you! *hopeful eyes*

And yes, I believe that's a good beginning. What a shame you don't have any sample of that poison! Because, seriously, most of them are harmless to us. But then... Indian rat poison could be a whole different thing *headdesk*