Methyl Bromide Intoxication During Grain Store Fumigation

Abstract

There have been over 300 cases of methyl bromide poisoning reported in the literature. The first objective of this case report was to bring out an experience with the false belief that work in a closed space is safe when accompanied by the use of a cartridge respirator with activated charcoal. The second objective of this article was to demonstrate the marked toxicity of methyl bromide with the potential to cause long-term neurological damage. Two experienced fumigation workers (equipped with rapidly saturable respiratory cartridges) entered a building where the concentration of methyl bromide was 17g x m-3 instead of the advised 20mg x m-3. They felt rapidly unwell and complained of nausea and shortness of breath, followed for one them by generalized convulsions. Five months later this last man was still bedridden. The other worker had almost no after-effects. The highest bromide level was found in the blood and also in the activated charcoal cartridge of the most injured worker. There was a relationship between methyl bromide level exposure and neurological damage importance.