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Fatal Accident Resulting from Methyl Bromide Poisoning after Fumigation of a Neighbouring House; Leakage through Sewage Pipes
Author(s) -
Langård Sverre,
Rognum Torleiv,
Fløtterød Øystein,
Skaug Vidar
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1263(199609)16:5<445::aid-jat370>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - fumigation , bromide , leakage (economics) , waste management , toxicology , environmental science , chemistry , engineering , biology , horticulture , organic chemistry , economics , macroeconomics
An intoxication after using methyl bromide (CH 3 Br) in fumigation is reported. The accident resulted in the death of a newborn infant within 12–13 h after exposure, as well as clinical intoxication of the infant's parents. The concentration of bromide ion in the infant's blood was 170 mg l −1 and in the parents blood it was 130 and 110 mg l −1 . Autopsy showed that the cause of death was acute pneumonia due to aspiration, most likely resulting from vomiting and aspiration after inhalation of CH 3 Br. The clinical symptoms of the parents are reported, as well as a brief survey on the kinetics and CH 3 Br toxicity in animals and humans. Reconstruction of the events prior to the intoxication revealed that the sewage pipes serving the two houses had been sucked empty only 1–2 h prior to the start of fumigation, resulting in an open sewage connection between the houses and permitting CH 3 Br to leak from the treated house into the house of the affected family.