Negative effect of methyl bromide fumigation work on the central nervous system

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 3;15(8):e0236694. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236694. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Methyl bromide (MB) is a fumigant that has been widely used for killing pests on plants in trade, soils, and structures worldwide due to its excellent permeability and insecticidal effect; however, MB should be replaced because it is an ozone-depleting substance. It is well-known that MB is highly toxic and hazardous to workers, but the effects of exposure in asymptomatic workers have not been explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of MB fumigation on the health of fumigators at a sensitive level. The electroencephalogram (EEG) and urinary bromide ion levels of 44 fumigators (the study group) and 20 inspectors (the control) were measured before and after fumigation work from February to August 2019 in Busan, Korea. The mean post-work concentration of bromide ion (18.311 μg/mg CRE) in the fumigators was significantly increased from the pre-work level (7.390 μg/mg CRE) (P<0.001). The fumigator post-work median frequencies (MDF) and alpha-to-theta ratios (ATR) of EEG index were significantly decreased compared to the pre-work values (P<0.05 for all indices). In contrast, there were no significant differences in inspector EEG indices and urinary bromide ion. The urinary bromide ion levels in all the subjects were negatively correlated with MDF (P = 0.032). In conclusion, fumigators' EEG indices and urinary bromide ion suggested that occupational exposure to MB negatively affected the health of workers, although the workers were asymptomatic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bromides / urine*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Fumigation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated / toxicity*
  • Insecticides / toxicity*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Bromides
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated
  • Insecticides
  • methyl bromide

Grants and funding

This study was carried out with funding of research on the plant quarantine technology development project of APQA. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.