Methyl Bromide

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA EMERGENCY OVERVIEW DANGER! Toxic liquid and gas under pressure. May be fatal if inhaled. Harmful if absorbed through the skin. Can cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract burns. Symptoms may be delayed. Can cause nervous system, lung, kidney, and liver damage. Can catch fire. Self-contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing must be worn by rescue workers. Under ambient conditions, this is a colorless gas, with a chloroform-like odor. OSHA REGULATORY STATUS: This material is considered hazardous by the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

Potential health effects

Effects of a Single (Acute) Overexposure Inhalation. Exposure to vapor irritates the respiratory tract, bringing possible pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). Inhalation may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, headache, mental confusion, and tremors. Liver, kidney, and central nervous system (CNS) damage may also occur, with paralysis, convulsion, coma, brain damage, and psychological disturbances. Skin Contact. Moderate exposure may cause an itching dermatitis seen as local redness. The skin may swell and scale. With prolonged or widespread contact, the skin may absorb potentially harmful amounts of material. Copyright © 1980, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2009,Praxair Technology, Inc. Swallowing. An unlikely route of exposure; this product is a gas at normal temperature and pressure. Contact with the liquid may burn the lips and mouth. Eye Contact. May cause moderate conjunctivitis, seen as redness and swelling of the eyes. Effects of Repeated (Chronic) Overexposure. Prolonged or repeated overexposure can cause disturbances of the CNS with blurred vision, numbness, confusion, hallucination, and fainting. Bronchospasm may develop. Repeated skin exposure may cause dermatitis. Although there is no evidence that methyl bromide can cause cancer in humans, users should handle the material with adequate ventilation and avoid direct skin contact. Other Effects of Overexposure. None known.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Overexposure. Inhalation may aggravate asthma and inflammatory or fibrotic pulmonary disease. Skin contact may aggravate an existing dermatitis. CARCINOGENICITY: The IARC lists methyl bromide as Group 3, unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans. Methyl bromide is not listed by NTP or OSHA.

Environmental effects

None known. For further information, see section 12, Ecological Information.