Actual hazard of methyl bromide fumigation in soil disinfection. 1982

R U Van Den Oever, and D Roosels, and D Lahaye

Methyl bromide, a highly toxic and ready penetrating fumigant, is widely used against rodents, insects, mites, and a range of pathogenic organisms in soil, compost, and timber. To disinfect soil in greenhouses, methyl bromide is brought under pressure from outside by a vaporiser and blown on to ground under a polyethylene cover. The gas being three times heavier than air easily penetrates the ground. Depending on the local ventilation, a considerable amount of gas evaporates into the surrounding atmosphere, this emission being especially serious during the fumigation procedure and at the removal of the plastic cover. Previously, mechanical injection of methyl bromide on to the ground within closed areas was prohibited, since this technique exposed at least four disinfection workers at a time, who were provided with only a canister respirator, to gas concentrations of over 1000 ppm CH3Br. The present study established that fumigation with methyl bromide also carries risks for the well-protected worker inside, as well as for the one controlling the vaporiser. The concentration during application varies from 30 to 3000 ppm. Concentration in the air declines with time to 4 ppm CH3Br five days after application. Discarding the plastic sheet involves exposure to peak values as high as 200 ppm for a few seconds. On the ninth day after application, milling the soil can expose workers to up to 15 ppm; on the eleventh day no CH3Br concentration in the air could be found.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002980 Climate The longterm manifestations of WEATHER. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Climates
D004202 Disinfectants Substances used on inanimate objects that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. Disinfectants are classed as complete, destroying SPORES as well as vegetative forms of microorganisms, or incomplete, destroying only vegetative forms of the organisms. They are distinguished from ANTISEPTICS, which are local anti-infective agents used on humans and other animals. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed) Biocide,Disinfectant,Biocides
D004781 Environmental Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals. Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D005651 Fumigation The application of smoke, vapor, or gas for the purpose of disinfecting or destroying pests or microorganisms. Fumigations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006842 Hydrocarbons, Brominated Hydrocarbon compounds with one or more HYDROGEN atoms substituted with BROMINE. Brominated Hydrocarbons
D000383 Agriculture The science, art or practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. Agronomy,Agricultural Development,Farming,Agronomies,Development, Agricultural
D012306 Risk The probability that an event will occur. It encompasses a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome. Relative Risk,Relative Risks,Risk, Relative,Risks,Risks, Relative
D012987 Soil The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants. Peat,Humus,Soils
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor

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