It is a highly cumulative poison, due to its high lipophilicity and extremely slow elimination.įollowing are acute LD 50 values for various animals (mammals) : A poisoned animal will suffer progressively worsening internal bleeding, leading to shock, loss of consciousness, and eventually death.īrodifacoum is highly lethal to mammals and birds, and extremely lethal to fish. In addition, brodifacoum (as with other anticoagulants in toxic doses) increases permeability of blood capillaries the blood plasma and blood itself begins to leak from the smallest blood vessels. This disruption becomes increasingly severe until the blood effectively loses any ability to clot. Vitamin K is required for the synthesis of important substances including prothrombin, which is involved in blood clotting.

This enzyme is needed for the reconstitution of the vitamin K in its cycle from vitamin K-epoxide, and so brodifacoum steadily decreases the level of active vitamin K in the blood. īrodifacoum inhibits the enzyme Vitamin K epoxide reductase. However due to very high potency and long duration of action (elimination half-life of 20 – 130 days), it is characterised as a 'second generation' or 'superwarfarin' anticoagulant. Dehydrated bodies also dry out more readily, possibly leaving an odorless, mummified carcass.īrodifacoum has a similar mode of action to warfarin. As such, there is less chance that homeowners will be forced to deal with decomposing remains inside their building.

īrodifacoum, like most anticoagulant poisons, has the advantage that one of its first effects is dehydration, forcing the rodent to move away from human habitation in search of water. It is typically used as a rodenticide but is also used to control rabbits, possums and other mammalian pests.

In recent years, it has become one of the world's most widely used pesticides. Oral dermal inhalation (dusts) (for poisoning)īrodifacoum is a highly lethal anticoagulant poison.

Antidote for vitamin k toxicity