Methyl bromide fumigant, vegetable

Forsythe, K.W., Jr. and Evangelou, P. (1994) Costs and benefits of irradiation versus methyl bromide fumigation for disinfestation of U.S. fruit and vegetable imports. Staff Report - Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, No. 9412, ii + 39 pp. 

Methyl bromide is used as a fumigant for soils (the agricultural use shown in Table 12.7) and shipments of fruits and vegetables as well as for buildings for termite control (shown as structural purposes in Table 12.7). Large amounts are released during biomass burning (e.g., see Mano and Andreae, 1994 Cicerone, 1994)... 

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. 

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