Leaks methyl bromide

Chloromethane exposures from foam production caused tremor and decreased attention and ability to do arithmetic. Enviromnental exposures from leaks in refrigerating systems caused deaths, convulsions, myoclonus and personality changes. One fishing boat exposure of 15 men left profound neurological residuals, fatigue, depression and alcohol intolerance. The effects resemble those of methyl bromide poisoning. 

In the 1970s, scientists linked several man-made substances to ozone depletion, including carbon tetrachloride (CCE), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, methyl bromide, and methyl chloroform. These chemicals leak from air conditioners, refrigerators, insulating foam, and some industrial processes. Winds carry them through the lower atmosphere into the stratosphere, where they react with strong solar radiation to release chlorine and bromine atoms. These atoms initiate chain reactions that consiune ozone. Scientists estimate that a single chlorine atom can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules. 

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