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IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of... 1999
Review
Topics: Animals; Carcinogenicity Tests; Carcinogens; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Experimental; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 10476469
DOI: No ID Found -
Residue Reviews 1983
Review
Topics: Animals; Behavior; Behavior, Animal; Carcinogens; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Kinetics; Mutagens; Mutation; Neoplasms; Neurotoxins; Respiration; Skin; Species Specificity; Teratogens
PubMed: 6348905
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-5569-7_3 -
Reviews of Environmental Contamination... 1995Methyl bromide is widely used as an insecticidal fumigant in food supplies, warehouses, barges, buildings, and furniture. Its popularity as a fumigant is largely... (Review)
Review
Methyl bromide is widely used as an insecticidal fumigant in food supplies, warehouses, barges, buildings, and furniture. Its popularity as a fumigant is largely attributable to its high toxicity to many pests, the variety of settings in which it can be applied, its ability to penetrate the fumigated substances, and its rapid dissipation following application. Because of its frequent use around humans and human-related activities and its high acute toxicity, methyl bromide-related fatal accidents have occurred. The primary route for human exposure to methyl bromide is inhalation. In California, the most frequent cause of death from methyl bromide exposure in recent years has been unauthorized entry into structures under fumigation. The most frequently reported lesions included pulmonary edema, congestion, and hemorrhage. In recent years, a great deal of effort has been given to the characterization of the toxicity of methyl bromide because of its commercial value and its direct and indirect economic importance. Methyl bromide is acutely very toxic. Subchronically and chronically, the principal target site for methyl bromide appears to be the central nervous system. However, there was no evidence for carcinogenic activity of methyl bromide following the normal environmental exposure routes of inhalation or oral intake through residue on foods. Methyl bromide is clearly genotoxic in vitro and in vivo, as evidenced by the positive results from various tests. The mechanism of toxicity for methyl bromide is currently uncertain, although its alkylating property as well as the possibility of forming a reactive intermediate through metabolic transformation remain attractive hypotheses.
Topics: Alkylation; Animals; Central Nervous System; DNA Damage; Food Contamination; Fumigation; Gene Expression; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Lung
PubMed: 7652197
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-4252-9_3 -
Annual Review of Phytopathology 2010Methyl bromide is an effective pre-plant soil fumigant used to control nematodes in many high-input, high-value crops in the United States, including vegetables, nursery... (Review)
Review
Methyl bromide is an effective pre-plant soil fumigant used to control nematodes in many high-input, high-value crops in the United States, including vegetables, nursery plants, ornamentals, tree fruits, strawberries, and grapes. Because methyl bromide has provided a reliable return on investment for nematode control, many of these commodities have standardized their production practices based on the use of this chemical and will be negatively impacted if effective and economical alternatives are not identified. Alternative control measures based on other chemicals, genetic resistance, and cultural practices require a greater knowledge of nematode biology to achieve satisfactory results. Here, we provide an overview of nematode management practices that we believe will be relied upon heavily in U.S. high-value crop production systems in a world without methyl bromide. Included are case studies of U.S. high-value crop production systems to demonstrate how nematode management practices other than methyl bromide may be incorporated.
Topics: Agriculture; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Nematode Infections; Pesticides; Plant Diseases
PubMed: 20455696
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-073009-114425 -
Nihon Ika Daigaku Zasshi Apr 1986
Review
Topics: Animals; Burns, Chemical; Fumigation; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Insecticides; Myoclonus; Occupational Diseases; Optic Atrophy; Rats
PubMed: 3519655
DOI: 10.1272/jnms1923.53.129 -
Human & Experimental Toxicology Jan 2014Methyl bromide (MeBr) is a chemically reactive compound that has found use as a fire retardant and fumigant used for wood, soil, fruits and grains. Its use is banned in... (Review)
Review
Methyl bromide (MeBr) is a chemically reactive compound that has found use as a fire retardant and fumigant used for wood, soil, fruits and grains. Its use is banned in many countries because of its ozone-depleting properties. Despite this ban, the use of MeBr persists in some parts of the world (e.g. New Zealand) due to its important role in maintaining strict biosecurity of exported and imported products. Its high chemical reactivity leads to a broad toxicological profile ranging from acute respiratory toxicity following inhalation exposure, through carcinogenicity to neurotoxicty. In this article, we discuss the chemistry of MeBr in the context of its mechanisms of toxicity. The chemical reactivity of MeBr clearly underlies its toxicity. Bromine (Br) is electronegative and a good leaving group; the δ+ carbon thus facilitates electrophilic methylation of biological molecules including glutathione (GSH) via its δ- sulphur atom, leading to downstream effects due to GSH depletion. DNA alkylation, either directly by MeBr or indirectly due to reduction in GSH-mediated detoxification of reactive alkylating chemical species, might explain the carcinogenicity of MeBr. The neurotoxicity of MeBr is much more difficult to understand, but we speculate that methyl phosphates formed in cells might contribute to its neurone-specific toxicity via cholinesterase inhibition. Finally, evidence reviewed shows that it is unlikely for Br⁻ liberated by the metabolism of MeBr to have any toxicological effect because the Br⁻ dose is very low.
Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Biotransformation; Disinfectants; Flame Retardants; Fumigation; Half-Life; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Mutagens; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Ozone Depletion; Tissue Distribution
PubMed: 23800997
DOI: 10.1177/0960327113493299 -
Journal of the Air & Waste Management... Jun 2022Alfalfa hay that was grown on a field treated with a methyl bromide and chloropicrin pesticide (at a 98/2 weight ratio) resulted in animal sickness, posing a disposal...
Alfalfa hay that was grown on a field treated with a methyl bromide and chloropicrin pesticide (at a 98/2 weight ratio) resulted in animal sickness, posing a disposal issue for the harvested feed. In consideration of disposal options, emissions and residues from burning treated and untreated alfalfa hay were sampled and analyzed to provide data for an assessment of potential health and environmental effects. Treated alfalfa hay was tested in parallel with untreated alfalfa in a controlled laboratory combustion facility. Results showed that about half of the bromine and chlorine in the treated hay was emitted and the remaining was retained in the ash. The alfalfa hay burned poorly, with modified combustion efficiencies, the ratio of CO to CO + CO, below 0.89. The emission factor for PM was statistically higher for the untreated versus treated alfalfa but the PAHs were doubled in the treated alfalfa. The treated alfalfa had significantly more emissions of polychorinated dibenzodioxin/dibenzofuran than the untreated alfalfa by a factor of 10, but less polybrominated dibenzodioxin/dibenzofuran. The high Br concentration in the treated alfalfa biomass may have resulted in formation and emission of mixed halogen compounds which were unable to be analyzed for lack of standards. Comparison of volatile organic compound emissions were unremarkable with the exception of MeBr where emissions from the treated alfalfa were over 300 times higher than the untreated biomass. The potential complications due to emissions and permitting of an open burn or contained incinerator left options for landfilling and feedstock blending for handling the treated alfalfa. : This paper illustrates the issues agricultural managers must deal with concerning the combustive disposal of contaminated crops. A method is presented whereby combustion of contaminated crops can be assessed for their suitability for disposal by open air or enclosed burning.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Biomass; Bromides; Carbon Dioxide; Crops, Agricultural; Dibenzofurans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated
PubMed: 34895080
DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.2013343 -
British Journal of Industrial Medicine Jan 1961Seven cases of methyl bromide poisoning which occurred amongst workers engaged on a fumigation project are described. The methods adopted for investigation of the...
Seven cases of methyl bromide poisoning which occurred amongst workers engaged on a fumigation project are described. The methods adopted for investigation of the environmental situation are discussed and the measurement of blood bromide levels on random samples of workers is suggested as an index of the effectiveness of equipment and working methods.
Topics: Brevibacterium; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Insecticides
PubMed: 13739738
DOI: 10.1136/oem.18.1.53 -
Phytopathology May 2020Strawberry production has historically been affected by soilborne diseases such as Verticillium wilt. This disease was a major limiting factor in strawberry production... (Review)
Review
Strawberry production has historically been affected by soilborne diseases such as Verticillium wilt. This disease was a major limiting factor in strawberry production in California in the 1950s and was the main reason that preplant soil fumigation with methyl bromide (MB) was developed in the late 1950s. MB fumigation was so successful that over 90% of the commercial strawberry fruit production in California utilized this technique. However, MB was subsequently linked to ozone depletion, and its use was phased out in 2005. The California strawberry industry was awarded exemption to the full phase-out until 2016, when all MB use in strawberry fruit production was prohibited. MB use continues in strawberry nurseries under an exemption to prevent spread of nematodes and diseases on planting stock. This review examines the impact of the MB phase-out on the California strawberry industry and evaluates the outlook for the industry in the absence of one of the most effective tools for managing soilborne diseases. New soilborne diseases have emerged, and historically important soilborne diseases have reemerged. Registration of new fumigants has been difficult and replacement of MB with a new and effective alternative is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Thus, crop losses due to soilborne diseases are likely to increase. Host plant resistance to soilborne diseases has become a top priority for strawberry breeding programs, and cultivars are increasingly selected for their resistance to soilborne diseases. The intelligent integration of a variety of management tactics is necessary to sustain strawberry production in California.
Topics: California; Fragaria; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Plant Diseases
PubMed: 32075499
DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-11-19-0406-IA -
Internal Medicine Journal Mar 2020Methyl bromide is an odourless, colourless, highly volatile gas, primarily used in fumigation. It can cause significant neurotoxicity, especially with chronic exposure....
Methyl bromide is an odourless, colourless, highly volatile gas, primarily used in fumigation. It can cause significant neurotoxicity, especially with chronic exposure. Haemodialysis has been used in acute toxicity, but its utility in chronic exposure has never been reported. We report the use of haemodialysis in a 20-year-old man with chronic methyl bromide toxicity affecting the optic nerves, brain and spinal cord. The patient underwent eight haemodialysis sessions with improvement in plasma bromine concentration, half-life and marked clinical recovery. The case demonstrates the utility of haemodialysis in the treatment of chronic methyl bromide toxicity.
Topics: Adult; Fumigation; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Male; Renal Dialysis; Young Adult
PubMed: 32141207
DOI: 10.1111/imj.14757