PMID- 21753746
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20110831
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 1545-861X (Electronic)
IS  - 0149-2195 (Linking)
VI  - 60
IP  - 27
DP  - 2011 Jul 15
TI  - Illness associated with exposure to methyl bromide-fumigated produce--California, 
      2010.
PG  - 923-6
AB  - Methyl bromide (MeBr) is a toxic gas used to fumigate agricultural fields and 
      some produce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires MeBr fumigation 
      of grapes imported from Chile to prevent invasion by the Chilean false red mite, 
      Brevipalpus chilensis. In 2010, two workers were exposed intermittently to MeBr 
      over several months as part of their job inspecting produce at a cold-storage 
      facility in Carson, California. Both workers had disabling neurologic symptoms 
      (e.g., ataxia, memory difficulties, and dizziness) and elevated serum bromide 
      concentrations. An environmental investigation revealed the potential for MeBr to 
      accumulate in enclosed areas during the transportation and storage of fumigated 
      grapes. Some MeBr air concentrations measured at a single point in time exceeded 
      current 8-hour exposure limits, suggesting that exposure in confined areas could 
      result in poisoning. Possible measures for facilities managers to consider to 
      reduce postfumigation MeBr exposures include 1) increased aeration time, 2) 
      reduction of packaging that might absorb MeBr or limit aeration, and 3) changes 
      in the stacking of pallets to improve air flow. Facilities should monitor air 
      MeBr levels if they store MeBr-fumigated commodities in enclosed spaces entered 
      by workers. Clinicians should consider occupational and environmental exposures 
      in their differential diagnosis, and workers who might become exposed to 
      fumigants should be informed of the health hazards related to these pesticides.
CN  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
LA  - eng
PT  - Case Reports
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
JT  - MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
JID - 7802429
RN  - 0 (Hydrocarbons, Brominated)
RN  - 0 (Insecticides)
RN  - 9V42E1Z7B6 (methyl bromide)
SB  - IM
EIN - MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011 Jul 22;60(28):959
MH  - Agriculture
MH  - Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis
MH  - Ataxia/chemically induced
MH  - California
MH  - Dizziness/chemically induced
MH  - *Fumigation
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hydrocarbons, Brominated/blood/*poisoning
MH  - Insecticides/blood/*poisoning
MH  - Male
MH  - Memory Disorders/chemically induced
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Nervous System Diseases/*chemically induced
MH  - *Occupational Exposure
MH  - Vitis
MH  - Young Adult
EDAT- 2011/07/15 06:00
MHDA- 2011/09/01 06:00
CRDT- 2011/07/15 06:00
PHST- 2011/07/15 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2011/07/15 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2011/09/01 06:00 [medline]
AID - mm6027a4 [pii]
PST - ppublish
SO  - MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011 Jul 15;60(27):923-6.