Methyl bromide exposure

Russo JM, Anger WK, Setzer JV, et al. 1984. Neurobehavioral assessment of chronic low-level methyl bromide exposure in the rabbit. J Toxicol Environ Health 14 247-255. 

Nicas, M. (2003a). Estimating methyl bromide exposure due to offgassing from fumigated commodities. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 18, 200-210. 

TABLE 5-1 Occupations and other environments at risk for methyl bromide exposure... 

A. Specific ieveis. Bromide levels in patients with acute methyl bromide exposure are usually well below the toxic range for bromism and may be only mildly elevated compared to unexposed (see Bromides, p 140). Nontoxic bromide levels do not rule out methyl bromide poisoning. Levels of methylated proteins or DNA are being investigated as possible biomarkers tor methyl bromide exposure. 

Inhalation. Remove the victim to fresh air and consult a doctor. Keep the person warm, and make sure that the victim is breathing freely. If the victim is not breathing, give artificial respiration. Give oxygen if breathing is labored. If the person is conscious, rinse the victim s mouth with water. Consult a doctor immediately in all cases of methyl bromide exposure. 

Gases or vapors that in concentrations of about Vj -1% for durations of exposure of about Vj hr are lethal or produce serious injury. Ammonia Methyl bromide... 

J.N. Seiber, J.E. Woodrow, P.S. Honaganahalli, J.S. LeNoir, and K.C. Dowling, Flux, dispersion characteristics, and sinks for airborne methyl bromide downwind of a treated agricultural field, in Fumigants Environmental Fate, Exposure, and Analysis, ed. J.N. Seiber, J.A. Knuteson, J.E. Woodrow, N.L. Wolfe, M.V. Yates, and S.R. Yates, ACS Symposium Series No. 652, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 154-177 (1997). 

Alexeeff GV, Kilgore WW, Munoz P, et al. 1985. Determination of acute toxic effects in mice following exposure to methyl bromide. J Toxicol Environ Health 15 109-123. 

Anger WK, Setzer JV, Russo JM, et al. 1981. Neurobehavioral effects of methyl bromide inhalation exposures. Scand J Work Environ Health 7 (SuppI 4) 40- 47. 

Djalali-Behzad G, Hussain S, Osterman-Golkar S, et al. 1981. Estimation of genetic risks of alkylating agents. VI. Exposure of mice and bacteria to methyl bromide. Mutat Res 84 1-9. 

Eustis SL, Haber SB, Drew RT, et al. 1988. Toxicology and pathology of methyl bromide in F344 rats and B6C3Fi mice following repeated inhalation exposure. Fundam AppI Toxicol 11 594- 610. 

Hezemans-Boer M, Toonstra J, Meulenbelt J, et al. 1988. Skin lesions due to exposure to methyl bromide. Arch Dermatol 124 917-921. 

Honma T. 1987. Alteration of catecholamine metabolism in rat brain produced by inhalation exposure to methyl bromide. Jpn J Ind Health 29 218-219. 

Honma T, Sudo A, Miyagawa M, et al. 1982. Significant changes in monoamines in rat brain induced by exposure to methyl bromide. Neurobehav Toxicol Teratol 4 521-524. 

Hurtt ME, Working PK. 1988. Evaluation of spermatogenesis and sperm quality in the rat following acute inhalation exposure to methyl bromide. Fundam AppI Toxicol 10 490-498. 

Hurtt ME, Thomas DA, Working PK, et al. 1988a. Degeneration and regeneration of the olfactory epithelium following inhalation exposure to methyl bromide Pathology, cell kinetics, and olfactory function. Toxicol AppI Pharmacol 94 311-328. 

Hurtt ME, Thomas DA, Morgan KT, et al. 1988b. Assessment of olfactory function after inhalation exposure of rats to methyl bromide [Abstract]. Toxicologist 8 144. 

Kishi R, Ishizu I, Ito I, et al. 1988. Health research of methyl bromide manufacturing workers. Part I. Symptoms of long-term exposure. Copenhagen, Denmark World Health Organization, 122-134. 

Prockop LD, Smith AO. 1986. Seizures and action myoclonus after occupational exposure to methyl bromide. J Fla Med Assoc 73 690-692. 

Sato M, Miyagawa M, Honma T, et al. 1985. Subacute effects of methyl bromide dosed by inhalation exposure to rats. Ind Health 23 235-238. 

Zwaveling JH, De Kort WL, Meulenbelt J, et al. 1987. Exposure of the skin to methyl bromide A study of six cases occupationally exposed to high concentrations during fumigation. Hum Toxicol 6 491-495. 

Sayers RR, Yant WP, Thomas BH, Burger LB Physiological response attending exposure to vapors of methyl bromide, methyl chloride, ethyl bromide and ethyl chloride. Public Health Bull 185 1-56, 1929... 

Toxicology. Methyl bromide is a neurotoxin and causes convulsions very high concentrations cause pulmonary edema chronic exposure causes peripheral neuropathy. 

Toxicological studies in animals indicate a steep concentration-response curve for methyl bromide and clear species and sex differences in sensitivity. Inhalation exposure up to 120ppm 6 hours/day for 13 weeks resulted in 17 % mortality in male mice but no mortality in female mice or rats of either sex. No methyl bromide-induced histologic lesions were observed in either species, including mice... 

According to the 1981-83 National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES, 1997), approximately 5000 workers in the United States were potentially exposed to methyl bromide (see General Remarks). Occupational exposures may occur in its production, in pest control for vegetables and fruits and in fumigation of soil. 

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (1997) has recommended 3.9 mg/m as the 8-h time-weighted average threshold limit value, with a skin notation, for occupational exposures to methyl bromide in workplace air. Values of 1-60 mg/m- have been used as standards or guidelines in other countries (International Labour Office, 1991). 

SMR, 17.8 95% CI, 2.0-64.9). An investigation of the work histories showed that methyl bromide was the only common potential exposure of these two cases. These men died at the ages of 17 and 33 years, respectively. [The Working Group noted that no information was available on duration of exposure or on time between first exposure and death from testicular cancer.]... 

---