How Accurate are Phosphine Monitoring Devices?
Ronda Danley, former Graduate Research Assistant, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, RDanley@hotmail.com Brian D. Adam, Professor, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, Brian.Adam@okstate.edu Jim Criswell, Pesticide Coordinator, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, JTC@okstate.edu Ronald Noyes, Professor Emeritus, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, RonaldNoyes@cox.net Thomas W. Phillips, Professor, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, TomP@okstate.edu A critical component of worker safety for fumigators monitoring phosphine gas levels is an accurate monitoring device. Researchers evaluated accuracy levels of four electronic devices and a tube-type device while monitoring Oklahoma grain elevators under fumigation; particular attention was paid to accuracy levels in the dangerous range. Average accuracy of the electronic devices ranged from 60% to 100%. Although the tube-type device was technically the most accurate, in practice it may be less accurate du
