PMID- 19484744
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20091005
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 1097-0274 (Electronic)
IS  - 0271-3586 (Linking)
VI  - 52
IP  - 7
DP  - 2009 Jul
TI  - Characterization of a fatal methyl bromide exposure by analysis of the water 
      cooler.
PG  - 579-86
LID - 10.1002/ajim.20708 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: A suspected inhalation exposure to methyl bromide (MeBr) in the 
      packaging and shipping area of a chemical manufacturer resulted in a worker 
      fatality and several symptomatic cases. However, air testing was negative for 
      MeBr resulting in uncertainty regarding the potential chemical exposure. Methods 
      of quickly confirming the exposure and magnitude were sought. METHODS: Head space 
      air and water samples were obtained from the breakroom water cooler in the 
      facility and tested for MeBr. RESULTS: Increased levels of MeBr were identified 
      in the air and water samples from the cooler and used to calculate the MeBr 
      concentration of air entering the cooler. The MeBr air concentration within the 
      breakroom was estimated as 1,200-2,100 ppm depending on assumptions regarding the 
      amount of water dispensed from the cooler both before and during the incident. 
      CONCLUSIONS: Estimated MeBr air concentrations in the breakroom were consistent 
      with those known to be associated with reported health effects among the involved 
      workers. The water cooler analysis represented a unique method of retrospectively 
      verifying and quantifying exposure to MeBr.
FAU - Hewitt, David J
AU  - Hewitt DJ
AD  - Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, LLC, North Little Rock, Arkansas 
      72118, USA. dhewitt@cteh.com
FAU - Gandy, Jay
AU  - Gandy J
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Am J Ind Med
JT  - American journal of industrial medicine
JID - 8101110
RN  - 0 (Air Pollutants, Occupational)
RN  - 0 (Hydrocarbons, Brominated)
RN  - 0 (Noxae)
RN  - 0 (Water Pollutants, Chemical)
RN  - 9V42E1Z7B6 (methyl bromide)
SB  - IM
MH  - Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis/*poisoning
MH  - Chemical Industry
MH  - Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hydrocarbons, Brominated/analysis/chemical synthesis/*poisoning
MH  - Male
MH  - Noxae/analysis/chemical synthesis/*poisoning
MH  - Occupational Diseases/*chemically induced/mortality
MH  - Risk Factors
MH  - Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*poisoning
MH  - Water Supply/*analysis
EDAT- 2009/06/02 09:00
MHDA- 2009/10/06 06:00
CRDT- 2009/06/02 09:00
PHST- 2009/06/02 09:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2009/06/02 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2009/10/06 06:00 [medline]
AID - 10.1002/ajim.20708 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Am J Ind Med. 2009 Jul;52(7):579-86. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20708.