“Biotransformation for L-Ephedrine Production”, P.L. Rogers, H.S. Shin, and B. Wang, Univ. of
New South Wales, Sidney, Australia

Phosphorus

Red P can only be ordered out-of-country
except as a reagent

•  Get from match box strike plates – 40% red P, 30% anitmony sufate
• Use white phosphorus 
• Use hypophosphorous or phosphorous acid

 Hazards

•  Flammable solid (friction) 
• If heated, converts to white phosphorus– Air reactive flammable solid 
• Off-gasses phosphine, especially when heated

Injuries/Fatalities

 Pesticide use:

• 59 cases, 26 deaths between 1900 and 1958
• CDC: 205 illness related cases between 1982-92

Carson, CA 8/96: 3 fatalities

LA 3/97: 2 deputies sick, cooker comatose

Oklahoma 8/97: 2 cookers dead

Orange, CA 10/99: 2 criminalists sick

 Hemet, CA 12/2000: 2 dead at meth lab