September 1995 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
Bromomethane |
(Bromometano) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about bromomethane. For more information,
you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous
substances and their health effects. This information is important
because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure
to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration,
how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether
other chemicals are present.
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SUMMARY: Exposure to bromomethane
occurs mostly from breathing contaminated air in the workplace
or at waste sites. It is usually not found in surface
water, soil, or food. Exposure to high levels can affect
your lungs and cause breathing difficulty. It can also
damage your kidneys and nervous system, and can even cause
death. This chemical has been found in at least 74 of
1,416 National Priorities List sites identified by the
Environmental Protection Agency. |
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What
is bromomethane? |
Bromomethane is a manufactured chemical.
It also occurs naturally in small amounts in the ocean where
it is formed, probably by algae and kelp. It is a colorless,
nonflammable gas with no distinct smell.
Other names for bromomethane are methyl
bromide, mono-bromomethane, and methyl fume. Trade names include
Embafume and Terabol.
Bromomethane is used to kill a variety
of pests including rats, insects, and fungi. It is also used
to make other chemicals or as a solvent to get oil out of
nuts, seeds, and wool.
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What
happens to bromomethane when it enters the environment? |
- It moves very quickly into the air when released to the
environment or when present in soil or water.
- It breaks down slowly in air over several years.
- It breaks down quickly in soil over a few days.
- Small amounts can move from the soil into the groundwater.
- It breaks down in groundwater over a period of several
months.
- It does not build up in plants or animals.
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How
might I be exposed to bromomethane? |
- Breathing very, very low background levels in the environment.
- Breathing contaminated air with high levels near waste
sites.
- Breathing air where it has been used as a pesticide.
- Breathing workplace air where it is made or used.
- Usually not found in surface water, soil, or food.
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How
can bromomethane affect my health? |
If you breathe bromomethane you may develop
a headache and begin to feel weak and nauseated several hours
later. If you breathe large amounts, fluid may build up in
your lungs and it may be hard to breathe. It could cause muscle
tremors, seizures, kidney damage, nerve damage, and even death.
Exposure levels leading to death vary
from 1,600 to 60,000 parts of bromomethane in 1 million parts
of air (1,600-60,000 ppm), depending on the length of the
exposure. These levels are much, much higher than those to
which you would normally be exposed to.
The respiratory, kidney, and neurologic
effects are of the greatest concern to people. No cases of
severe effects on the nervous system from long-term exposure
to low levels have been noted in people, but studies in rabbits
and monkeys have shown moderate to severe injury.
Swallowing bromomethane may cause stomach
irritation. If bromomethane gets on your skin, it can cause
itching, redness, and blisters. These effects are caused by
levels that are higher than levels you might normally encounter
We do not know if it affects our ability
to reproduce. Studies in animals suggest that bromomethane
does not cause birth defects and does not interfere with reproduction,
except at high exposure levels.
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How
likely is bromomethane to cause cancer? |
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
has determined that bromomethane is not classifiable as to
its human carcinogenicity.
There are no studies available to indicate
that bromomethane is carcinogenic to people. Animal studies
do not provide conclusive evidence.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to bromomethane? |
Several tests are available to tell if
you have been exposed to bromomethane. It can be measured
in your blood or in the air you breathe out. This test is
not very useful because most bromomethane doesn't stay in
your body long.
Another test measures the main breakdown
product of bromomethane (bromide) in your blood or urine.
Bromide is normally present in your blood, but the level would
be higher if you had been exposed to bromomethane. This test
is only useful if done within 1-2 days following exposure
and cannot predict if any health effects will occur.
These tests are not routinely performed
at doctors' offices, but your doctor can take blood or urine
samples and send them to a testing laboratory.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
EPA requires that spills or accidental
releases into the environment of 1,000 pounds or more of bromomethane
be reported.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
set a limit of 125-400 parts of bromide per million parts
of food (ppm) for food treated with bromomethane.
The Occupational Safety and Health Agency
(OSHA) limits the average level of bromomethane in workplace
air to 20 ppm for an 8-hour workday over a 40-hour week, and
recommends that exposure be reduced as low as possible.
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Glossary |
Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Long-term: Lasting one year or longer.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1995. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents.
Volume III Medical Management Guidelines for Acute
Chemical Exposures: Bromomethane. Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1992. Toxicological
Profile for bromomethane. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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