Police are urging Queenslanders not to touch any silver canisters on beaches after one was found containing a potentially fatal toxic chemical.
The canister, about 30cm long and 15cm wide, and containing aluminium phosphide, was found by water police near Cape Capricorn near Gladstone on Wednesday.
The chemical is a rat poison and if the canister is opened, the powder inside can react with moisture in the air to release highly toxic phosphine gas.
The gas has a strong odour like garlic or rotting fish and exposure to it can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty breathing and in severe cases can be fatal.
It can also be flammable, and has the potential to spontaneously ignite.
The canister was removed from the beach and police warned locals to avoid touching, moving or opening any other canisters they find, and instead call triple zero.
