Bromine inblood, EEGandtransaminases inmethylbromide workers

In33methylbromide users,slight electroencephalographic changes (in10subjects) anda small increase inserum transaminases werefoundwhichcouldberelated tobromine con- centration inblood. No relationship was foundwithsubjective symptoms,general neurological examination or theresults ofserumprotein electrophoresis. Methyl bromide isusedtokill harmful organisms in foodstoresandinsoilusedforhorticulture. Application maybehazardous tothehealth ofthe workers, especially inside greenhouses. Severe and sometimes fatal intoxication hasbeenreported in theUnited States (Hine, 1969), Japan(Araki etal., 1971), France (Merellio etal., 1974), Spain (Garcia Ricoetal., 1974) andtheNetherlands (Hartzuiker, 1968). A fewyearsago,theDutchLabourIn- spectorate madeastudy oftheuseofthebromine level inblood asanindicator oftheearly effects of methyl bromide exposure. Inacuteserious intoxication methylbromide causes pulmonary oedema, convulsions andhyper- thermia. Insuchcases EEG disturbances havebeen reported. Chronic exposure maycauseneuropathy, ataxia, disturbance ofrenal andliver function and behavioural changes. Thereisnogenerally accepted guideline fornormal bromine levels inblood (Br-B).