Two containers of the highly toxic and potentially fatal chemical phosphine have been stolen from a Perth grain terminal.
Offenders entered the CBH grain terminal in East Rockingham, in Perth's south, on Monday night and broke into a truck, stealing specialist equipment, police said.
They also broke into a shed used to store hazardous materials and stole two containers of phosphine, totalling 6.8kg.
Phosphine is present in aluminium phosphate and is a very potent insecticide that is activated by exposure to moisture and vaporises for about 30 days.
The vapour was extremely toxic and could be fatal, police said.
It smells like garlic and rotten fish, and breathing apparatus is needed to handle the material safely.
At high concentrations, phosphine auto-ignites and creates a thermal burn risk, police said.
Symptoms of exposure include shortness of breath, chest tightness, headache, vertigo, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
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