Two sisters, 4 and 2-years old died from possible pesticide poisoning

Layton, Utah - Rachel and Rebecca Toone died this week from possible pesticide poisoning. Initially carbon monoxide was suspected when the family's carbon monoxide detector went off and the children's mother Brenda Toon called the fire department. Investigators believe they were exposed to fumitoxin, a substance that was used to treat a vole problem at the Toone house on Friday. Hazmat crews tested the air inside the home and found high levels of phosphine; that's a gas that's released from aluminum phosphide pesticide pellets when they get wet. According to the CDC, children tend to be more at risk than adults for pesticide poisoning because they breathe more frequently and they are closer to the ground where the vapors settle. February 9, 2010