Health Effects Associated with Sulfuryl Fluoride and Methyl Bromide Exposure Among Structural Fumigation Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Briggle T ; Calvert, Geoffrey M. ; Chrislip DW ; Fajen, John M. ; Fleming, Lora E. ; Mueller, Charles A. ; Russo J ; Steenland, Kyle ; Suruda, Anthony J.
• Description:
  This study assessed the health effects associated with occupational exposure to methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride among structural fumigation workers. A cross-sectional study of 123 structural fumigation workers and 120 referents in south Florida was conducted. Nerve conduction, vibration, neurobehavioral, visual, olfactory, and renal function testing was included. The median lifetime duration of methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride exposure among workers was 1.20 years and 2.85 years, respectively. Sulfuryl fluoride exposure over the year preceding examination was associated with significantly reduced performance on the Pattern Memory Test and on olfactory testing. In addition, fumigation workers had significantly reduced performance on the Santa Ana Dexterity Test of the dominant hand and a nonsignificantly higher prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome than did the referents. Occupational sulfuryl fluoride exposures may be associated with subclinical effects on the central nervous system, including effects on olfactory and some cognitive functions. However, no widespread pattern of cognitive deficits was observed. The peripheral nerve effects were likely caused by ergonomic stresses experienced by the fumigation workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Safety Sulfur Compounds Workplace
• Keywords:
  Dexterity Fumigants Humans Methyl Compounds Nerve Function Olfactory Disorders Renal Absorption Sulfur Compounds Visual Motor Performance Workers Workplace Studies

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• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; Nevada ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  88
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20023474
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 1998 Dec; 88(12):1774-1780
• Contact Point Address:
  Geoffrey M. Calvert, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-21, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  jac6@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Methyl bromide (CAS RN 74-83-9) ; Sulfonyl fluoride (CAS RN 2699-79-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1999
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:90d0b98581c190129924064b99d55f8aea43793c7a129a060735d6c7d7f07f4b949cee7d9d1cb8b3251c06dcf8f72a53051ed0b2effb6ca9a0f336a9fd6a0a1b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/195868/cdc_195868_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.94 MB ]