
Bromadiolone is a type of rat poison that's widely used to control rodent populations. It's a long-acting anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting, ultimately leading to the death of the rodent.
Bromadiolone is highly toxic to rats and other small mammals, with a single dose capable of killing them. This makes it a popular choice for pest control professionals.
However, bromadiolone can also pose risks to other animals, including pets and wildlife. If ingested, it can cause bleeding and other health problems.
The risks associated with bromadiolone are largely due to its long-acting nature, which allows it to remain toxic in the body for a prolonged period.
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What Is Bromadiolone?
Bromadiolone is a rodenticide meant to kill rats and mice.
It's a type of anticoagulant that prevents blood from clotting, making it lethal even after just one day's feeding.
Bromadiolone was first registered in the United States in 1980.
It's an odorless powder that comes in a white to yellow color.
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Toxicology and Effects
Brodifacoum, a highly potent and long-lasting anticoagulant, is extremely lethal to mammals and birds, and even more so to fish. It's a highly cumulative poison, making it difficult to eliminate from the body.
Brodifacoum works by inhibiting vitamin K epoxide reductase, leading to a decrease in active vitamin K in the blood, which is crucial for blood clotting. This disruption can cause severe internal bleeding, shock, loss of consciousness, and eventually death.
The LD50 values for various animals are as follows:
Bromadiolone, another anticoagulant, has been studied for its non-cancer effects, and researchers have observed changes in reproductive organs in adult rats and mice.
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are a type of toxic substance that can have devastating effects on the body. They work by preventing the formation of blood clots, which can lead to severe bleeding and even death.
Brodifacoum is a highly potent anticoagulant that is often used in rat poisons. It has a long duration of action, with an elimination half-life of 20-130 days, making it extremely difficult to reverse its effects.
The anticoagulants in rat poisons, including brodifacoum, stop the actions of a vitamin K enzyme needed to form blood clots. This can be reversed with vitamin K1 therapy through an IV.
Second-generation anticoagulants, such as brodifacoum, have long-lasting effects, requiring oral doses of vitamin K1 therapy for an average of 168 days.
Here's a list of some common anticoagulants found in rat poisons:
- First-generation anticoagulants: warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone
- Second-generation anticoagulants: brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone
These anticoagulants can be highly lethal to mammals and birds, with brodifacoum being particularly deadly to fish. The LD50 values for brodifacoum vary by species, with rats having an LD50 of 0.27 mg/kg b.w.
Here's an interesting read: Brodifacoum Mouse Poison
Are All Equally Dangerous?
Bromethalin is considered less toxic to humans because you would need to ingest a significant amount to be fatal—more than you are likely to ingest accidentally.
Some rat poisons, like thallium, are extremely toxic and can be fatal even with exposure to small amounts. It's estimated that as little as 8 milligrams of thallium can be fatal, which is less than 1/500th of a teaspoon.
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Cholecalciferol poisoning is far more common in pets than it is in people, and it would take a large dose to cause calcium toxicity (hypercalcemia) in a person.
Here's a breakdown of the toxicity levels of some common rat poison ingredients:
- Bromethalin: considered less toxic to humans due to the large amount needed to cause death
- Thallium: extremely toxic and can be fatal with small amounts
- Cholecalciferol: more common in pets than people, and requires a large dose to cause calcium toxicity
Some rat poison products contain blue or green dye to help identify if someone has touched or swallowed them, but it's still crucial to check the packaging for the active ingredient and share that information with healthcare providers and poison control.
Treatment and Risks
Rat poison can be treated with supportive care, such as administering activated charcoal and fluids to counteract the effects of the poison.
The most common rat poison, brodifacoum, can cause bleeding disorders and is often irreversible.
Symptoms of brodifacoum poisoning include bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and easy bruising.
Exposure to Bromadiolone Risks
Exposure to bromadiolone is a serious concern, and understanding the risks is crucial for your safety. You are most likely to come in contact with bromadiolone if you touch it or eat it.
Children and animals may be exposed to bromadiolone if they find and eat granules or baits. Pets or wildlife may also be exposed if they eat another animal which has been poisoned.
Bromadiolone does not get up into the air effectively, so breathing it in is not likely. However, exposure can still occur if you're not careful.
Exposure can be limited by reading and following label directions, especially if your job involves applying pesticides.
Treatment
The primary antidote to brodifacoum poisoning is immediate administration of vitamin K1, with a dosage of 10-25 mg given intravenously at 3-6 hour intervals until the prothrombin time returns to normal.
If you're lucky, you'll catch the poisoning early enough to prevent excessive bleeding, but even so, the antidote needs to be administered regularly for several months to counteract the effects of brodifacoum, which can last for many months.
Gastric lavage and activated charcoal may be required if there's still unabsorbed poison in your digestive system, which can help prevent further absorption.
In severe cases, infusion of blood clotting factor concentrate may be necessary to counteract hypovolemic shock, which can be life-threatening.
Infusion of blood or plasma can also help counteract hypovolemic shock and restore blood clotting factors.
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Types of Rodenticides
Low-toxicity and eco-friendly rodenticides, such as powdered corn cob and corn meal gluten, have been developed to target rodents without harming scavenging wildlife. These preparations rely on dehydration and electrolyte imbalance to cause death.
Inert gas killing of burrowing pest animals is another method that's gained popularity, with one such method being commercialized and sold under the brand name Rat Ice, a dry ice formulation.
Non-anticoagulant rat poisons, on the other hand, contain ingredients like bromethalin, cholecalciferol, strychnine, and zinc phosphide, which have no antidotes and require supportive care, including IV fluids and treatments for specific symptoms.
What Is Bromadiolone?
Bromadiolone is a rodenticide used to kill rats and mice. It's a type of anticoagulant that prevents blood from clotting.
This means bromadiolone can be lethal in just one day's feeding, unlike some other rat poisons that require multiple days of consumption.
Bromadiolone Containing Products
Bromadiolone containing products are widely available, with over 130 registered products in the United States. These products are typically pellets or bait blocks with 0.005% bromadiolone.
They can be used in and around buildings and in some vehicles. To identify exposure, products sold in stores often contain blue-green or red dye.
Bromadiolone products are only intended for sale to professionals, and most applications require the use of a bait station to discourage access. This is to reduce the risk of accidental poisonings of children and wildlife.
If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.
Here are some examples of anticoagulant rat poisons, including bromadiolone:
- First-generation anticoagulants: warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone.
- Second-generation anticoagulants: brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone.
Classes of Rodenticides
There are two main classes of rodenticides: anticoagulant and non-anticoagulant.
Anticoagulant rat poisons are responsible for more than half of all rat poison-related calls to the Poison Control Center each year.
These poisons contain substances like warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone, which stop the actions of a vitamin K enzyme your body needs to form blood clots.
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To reverse the blood thinning effect, you may be given vitamin K1 therapy through an IV.
Superwarfarins, a type of anticoagulant, have long-lasting effects, requiring oral doses of vitamin K1 therapy for an average of 168 days.
Non-anticoagulant rat poisons, on the other hand, contain ingredients like bromethalin, cholecalciferol, strychnine, and zinc phosphide.
There are no drugs to reverse the effects of non-anticoagulant rat poisons like bromethalin, strychnine, or zinc phosphide.
Supportive care may include IV fluids and treatments for specific symptoms, and activated charcoal may be used to calm the gastrointestinal tract.
Here are the main differences between anticoagulant and non-anticoagulant rat poisons:
Non-Anticoagulant Poisons
Non-Anticoagulant Poisons are a type of rodenticide that work differently than anticoagulant poisons like bromadiolone. These poisons prevent the body from recycling vitamin K, leading to death from bleeding.
Bromethalin is a non-anticoagulant rat poison that can be found in some rodenticides. It's a common ingredient in non-anticoagulant rat poisons, which are designed to kill rodents quickly.
Cholecalciferol, another ingredient in non-anticoagulant rat poisons, can cause severe symptoms in animals and humans if ingested. If you suspect exposure, it's essential to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully.
Strychnine and zinc phosphide are also non-anticoagulant rat poisons that can be found in some rodenticides. These poisons have no antidote, and treatment is usually focused on supportive care, such as IV fluids and treatments for specific symptoms.
Activated charcoal may be used to calm the gastrointestinal tract if exposure to non-anticoagulant rat poisons occurs.
Low-Toxicity/Eco-Friendly Rodenticides
Powdered corn cob and corn meal gluten have been developed as rodenticides, approved in the EU and patented in the US in 2013. These preparations rely on dehydration and electrolyte imbalance to cause death.
One such method uses powdered corn cob and corn meal gluten, which are both eco-friendly options for controlling rodent populations.
Inert gas killing of burrowing pest animals is another method with no impact on scavenging wildlife.
Bromadiolone Mechanism and Safety
Bromadiolone works by preventing the body from recycling vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting. This means that animals exposed to bromadiolone can bleed to death.
It can take several days for the body's stores of vitamin K to be exhausted, during which time exposed animals may appear healthy but are actually suffering from internal bleeding.
In studies, pregnant animals fed small doses of bromadiolone showed no effects on their babies, but the mothers developed severe health issues, including bleeding and weak muscles.
Bromadiolone Environmental Fate
Bromadiolone breaks down quickly in soil, with 45-78% of it disappearing within the first 21 days.
It's worth noting that the breakdown process can take longer if bromadiolone is stored underground by animals, where it has less exposure to the weather.
In soil, bromadiolone has a low potential to move, with 95% remaining in the upper three centimeters.
However, it's more mobile in sandy soil, where it can move more easily.
In water, bromadiolone has a half-life of 392 days, meaning it takes almost a year to break down.
But in some water conditions, bromadiolone may not break down at all.
Bromadiolone has a low potential to move up into the air, which is good news for nearby plants.
When applied to soil, only trace levels of bromadiolone move up into plants, posing little risk to food crops.
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Bromadiolone Mechanism
Bromadiolone works by preventing the body from recycling vitamin K, a crucial nutrient for blood clotting.
This means that animals exposed to bromadiolone will eventually run out of vitamin K, leading to uncontrolled bleeding.
It can take several days for the body's stores of vitamin K to be exhausted, which is why exposed animals may take several days to eventually die.
Brand Names and Ingredient
Brodifacoum is marketed under many different brand names. Some of these trade names include Arakus, Biosnap, and d-CON.
These brand names are used to sell brodifacoum, a type of rat poison. The name of the poison is not always explicitly stated on the packaging.
Some examples of brodifacoum's brand names are: Finale, Fologorat, Havoc, Jaguar, Klerat, and Matikus.
Brand Names
Brodifacoum is marketed under many trade names, including Arakus (Advansia), Biosnap, d-CON, Finale, Fologorat, Havoc, Jaguar, Klerat, Matikus, Mouser, Pestoff, Rakan, Ratak+, Rataquill Colombia, Ratshot Red, Rattex, Rodend, Rodenthor, Ratsak, Talon, Volak, Vertox, and Volid.
Some of these trade names, such as d-CON and Ratsak, are well-known household names.
Brodifacoum is also sold under the names Finale and Fologorat, which are likely used in more specialized settings.
The sheer number of trade names for Brodifacoum is a testament to its widespread use and popularity.
Many of these trade names, such as Rattex and Rodenthor, seem to be variations on the same theme.
The diversity of trade names for Brodifacoum is likely due to the fact that it is used in a variety of applications, from pest control to animal control.
Take a look at this: D Con Rat Poison Active Ingredients
Ingredient
The ingredient list for poisonous substances is quite extensive.
One of the ingredients listed is 2-isovaleryl-1,3-indandione.
This is not a product name, but rather a specific poisonous ingredient.
Let's take a look at some of the other ingredients listed: 2-pivaloyl-1,3-indandione, Brodifacoum, Chlorophacinone, Coumachlor, Difenacoum, Diphacinone, Warfarin, Bromadiolone, and Difethialone.
Here are the poisonous ingredients listed in a table for easy reference:
These ingredients are indeed poisonous.
Case Studies and Research
Rat poison has been used for centuries, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient civilizations such as ancient Egypt and Rome.
One of the most well-known rat poisons is warfarin, which has been used since the 1940s to control rodent populations.
Warfarin works by blocking the production of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, leading to uncontrolled bleeding in rats.
Researchers have studied the effectiveness of warfarin and other rat poisons, with some finding that they can be up to 99% effective in controlling rat populations.
However, the use of rat poisons has also been linked to environmental concerns, such as the potential for secondary poisoning in non-target species.
Has Anyone Studied Non-Cancer Effects of Long-Term Bromadiolone Exposure?
Researchers have indeed studied the non-cancer effects of long-term bromadiolone exposure.
Pregnant animals that were fed small doses of bromadiolone for several days showed no effects on their babies.
However, the mothers developed severe health issues, including bleeding and pale eyes, and eventually died.
In separate studies with adult rats and mice, researchers observed changes in reproductive organs.
These findings suggest that bromadiolone can have significant non-cancer effects, particularly on the health of mothers and reproductive systems.
Case Reports

A woman deliberately consumed over 1.5 kg of rat bait containing 75 mg of brodifacoum and made a full recovery after receiving conventional medical treatment.
Brodifacoum intoxication has been reported in various case reports, highlighting the need for prompt medical attention if poisoning is suspected.
A 48-year-old female patient reported symptoms of mild dyspnea, dry cough, and diffuse upper abdominal pain after consuming an unknown amount of brodifacoum, leading to a diagnosis of superwarfarin toxicity.
The patient's prothrombin time (PT) was above 100 s, partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was above 200 s, and international normalized ratio (INR) was above 12.0, indicating a critical reduction of vitamin K-dependent factors.
In 2015, 19 inmates in New York City's Rikers Island jail claimed to have been poisoned with brodifacoum after noticing blue and green pellets in their meatloaf.
A 20-year-old female college student presented with abdominal pain and blood in urine after consuming seven packets of rodenticide, which tested positive for brodifacoum.

The patient required continual doses of vitamin K to counteract the brodifacoum, highlighting the need for ongoing treatment in cases of superwarfarin toxicity.
A 48-year-old businessman was admitted with a severe nosebleed and abnormal coagulation parameters after consuming brodifacoum found in his home, requiring standard treatment of vitamin K and fresh plasma.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is another name for rat poison?
Rodenticide is another name for rat poison, a substance used to kill rodents and other pest animals. Common types of rodenticides include warfarin and 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate).
What are the three types of rat poison?
There are three main types of rat poison: first-generation anticoagulants, second-generation anticoagulants (SGARs), and acute toxicants. Understanding the differences between these types is crucial for effective rodent control and safety.
What was the old rat poison?
Old rat poison often contained toxic plant extracts like Red Squill, which was widely used from the 1920s until World War II. Arsenic and phosphorus powders were also early commonly sold poisons.
What was the old rat poison?
Old rat poison typically contained arsenic or phosphorus powders, with cyanide being introduced in the 1920s. These toxic substances were often used in various product formats, posing a risk to both rodents and humans.
What is the poison only for rats?
Brodifacoum is the active ingredient in Pest Expert Formula 'B' Rat Killer, a potent poison specifically designed for rat control. It's 4 times stronger than Bromadiolone, making it highly effective against rats.
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