Fumigation hazards

Lowe J, Sullivan JB, Jr. 1992. Fumigants. Hazardous Materials Toxicology, Clinical Principles of 1992. 

A guide to the integrity, workplace environment and miscellaneous aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations 1996 Control of substances hazardous to health m fumigation operations... 

Toxic to individual species or broadly hazardous Pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, fumigants Toxic to humans Chronic or acute... 

COP30 COSHH Control of substances hazardous to health in fumigation operations. 

Cyanide compounds are useful to society in terms of their key role in synthetic and industrial processes, for certain fumigation and agricultural uses, and for some therapeutic applications (Ballantyne and Marrs 1987). Cyanides are present in effluents from iron and steel processing plants, petroleum refineries, and metal-plating plants, and constitute a hazard to aquatic ecosystems in certain waste-receiving waters (Smith et al. 1979) and to livestock (USEPA 1980 Towill et al. 1978). Cyanide serves no useful purpose in the human body, yet it is present in our food, air, and water (Becker 1985). 

Ballantyne, B. 1988. Toxicology and hazard evaluation of cyanide fumigation powders. Clin. Toxicol. 26 325-335. 

Soil fumigation is the primary use of bromomethane in the United States, accounting for approximately 65% of total consumption (EPA 1989c lARC 1986). Based on reported production for 1984 (43 million pounds), this would be about 28 million pounds/year. However, as discussed in Section 5.3.1, most bromomethane will tend to evaporate from the soil within 1-2 days, so soil contamination is normally not persistent. No industrial releases of bromomethane to soil were reported for 1987 (TRI 1989 see Table 5-1), and bromomethane has not been detected in soils or sediments at 455 hazardous waste sites, including 99 NPL sites (CLPSD 1989). 

Van Den Oever R, Roosels D, Lahaye D. 1982. Actual hazard of methyl bromide fumigation in soil disinfection. Br J Ind Med 39 140-144. 

The compounds profiled in this book include solvents, herbicides, insecticides, fumigants, and other hazardous substances most coimnoidy found in the groundwater and soil environment the organic Priority Pollutants promulgated by the U.S. Enviromnental Protection Agency (U S. EPA) under the Clean Water Act of 1977 [40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 136, 1977] and compounds most commonly found in the workplace. 

Source Carbon tetrachloride is used in fumigant mixtures such as 1,2-dichloroethane (Granosan) because it reduces the fire hazard (Worthing and Hance, 1991). 

EtnO has also been used as a disinfectant or fumigant (Ref 17, p 1081 Ref 18), Technical EtnO mixed with some carbon dioxide or ch loro flu oro hydrocarbons (to remove the expln hazard) is intended for use as a biological decontaminant (See Ref 19). 

Although organophosphates now predominate as high-use Insecticides, a variety of chemicals of other functional types are used to control pests as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, fumigants, defoliants etc. Several of these are the source of potential operational hazards that must be addressed In terms of worker protection and the necessity for analysis of exposure and assessment of its effects. 

It was once an important industrial chemical used directly as an agricultural fumigant and as an intermediate in the manufacture of insecticides. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene and still bottoms from its manufacture are found in hazardous waste chemical sites, and large quantities were disposed at the Love Canal site. The pure compound is a light yellow liquid (fp, 11°C bp, 239°C) with a density of 1.7 g/cm3 and a pungent, somewhat musty odor. With two double bonds, it is a very reactive compound and readily undergoes substitution and addition reactions. Its photolytic degradation yields water-soluble products. 

Figure 16.4 shows the structural formulas of some of the more common organohalide insecticides, now discontinued and of historical interest, and of concern in some old hazardous waste sites. Most of the insecticidal organohalide compounds contain chlorine as the only halogen. Ethylene dibromide and dichlorobromopropane are insecticidal, but are more properly classified as fumigants and nematocides. 

SAFETY PROFILE A poison by ingestion. A toxic fumigant. A very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, spark, or flame. Can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. To fight fire, use alcohol foam, foam, CO2, dry chemical. See also ESTERS. 

Protective equipment must be used for protection from toxic gases and vapors and are required for normal hazardous operations such as working in a spray-painting plant, production and use of toxic chemicals, and fumigant use. Safe respiratory protective equipment is required for all these activities. 

Chloroform is a volatile, low-molecular weight, lipophilic compound and a chlorinated trihalo-metheane. Most of the chloroform produced in the United States is used to make fluorocarbon 22 (HCFC 22) and the rest is produced for export and miscellaneous uses. In the past it was used as an inhalation anesthetic and as an extraction for, fats, oils, greases and other products, as a dry cleaning spot remover, in fire extinguishers, and as a fumigant. It is available as emulsions, spirits, tinctures, and chloroform water. Chloroform is also formed as a by-product of chlorination of water, wastewater, and swimming pool. Other sources include pulp and paper mills, hazardous waste sites, and sanitary landfills. 

Ethylene dibromide (EDB) was formerly used as a fumigant for fruits and grains, but now it is banned because it is a potential health hazard. EDB is a liquid that boils at 109°C. Its molecular weight is 188 g/mol. Calculate the density of its vapor at 180°C and 1.00 atm. 

Torkelson TR, Hoyle HR, Rowe VK. 1966. Toxicological hazards and properties of commonly used space, structural and certain other fumigants. Pest Control 34 13-18, 42-50. 

Ballantyne B (1986). Hazard evaluation of cyanide fumigant powder formulations. Vet Human Toxicol, 28, 42. 

Marano DE. 1984. Chemical fumigants in the grain-handling industry. Health Hazards in the Occupational Environment 7 76-82. 

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