Police warn of toxic canisters
Potentially deadly mystery canisters wash up on beachesNSW Police has advised of the significant risk that is posed by canisters of Aluminium Phosphide that are washing ashore along the East Coast of Australia. To date, canisters have been located in Queensland, Batemans Bay and as of yesterday afternoon (March 26) on Cronulla Beach.
There is a real risk, say police, that due to the extent of the Northern Region coastline, that these items may be located on beaches and in waterways.
As we reported in January last year, this is not the first time that the canisters of aluminium phosphide have washed up on east coast beaches.
In our last report, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was trying to ascertain whether the canisters were from a ship, and if they were, was their disposal a deliberate act of pollution or an accidental cargo loss in Australian waters.
AMSA checked incident reports of cargo losses which showed no record of a vessel having reported losing this type of cargo.
Looking at the canister in the photo issued by NSW Police, it doesn’t have the appearance of being in the ocean for over a year, so even our inexpert eye could deduce that someone is dumping this potentially lethal substance at sea. Or i'ts an old photo.
NSW Police has said that if a canister is located, the item should not be handled and police, fire and rescue authorities should be contacted immediately.
Police reiterated that the substance is very toxic and that it can produce phosphine gas and can be lethal.
Aluminium Phosphide is commonly used as a rat poison.
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