Beach canisters may contain rat poison, state ecology officials warn

If beachcombers on the Washington coast come across metal canisters they should contact state officials and not open the cylinders.

The state Department of Ecology believes the canisters contained poison used to kill rats on cargo ships, although the state hasn't yet confirmed the contents through tests.

While the canisters that have been found were empty, they still may contain residue of aluminum phosphide, a chemical used to kill rodents and insects. State officials believe the Thermos-like canisters, each about 8 inches long, either fell off ships or were thrown overboard after being emptied. So far they've heard of dozens found near Ocean Shores and beaches farther north.

"Probably a few dozen have been seen. A lot fewer have been picked up and taken home," said Jim Sachet, regional supervisor for spill response with the Department of Ecology.

Sachet said no people or marine life have been reported harmed by the canisters. "But they are still a concern and we need to give people a safe way to get rid of these things."

The state plans to establish a process to collect and dispose of the canisters. Anyone who may have found one of the containers should call Sachet at 360-407-6300.

The canisters came to Sachet's attention after volunteers at an annual Ocean Shores beach cleanup on Sunday reportedly picked up 10 of them.

Based on the number of canisters reportedly seen, Curtis Ebbesmeyer, a Seattle-based oceanographer and expert in flotsam, believes hundreds have washed up on Washington beaches.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com