Estudio de los efectos neurotóxicos del bromuro de metilo sobre trabajadores expuestos / Study of neurotoxic effects of methyl bromide over exposed workers

RESUMO

We studied prospectively 15 male middle age workers before and after a fumigation period with methyl bromide, that lasted 2 to 4 weeks. According to the initial assessment, 5 of these subjects had a chronic exposure to the chemical. As controls, 10 non exposed workers matched for age, sex and working conditions were studied in 2 occasions. The evaluation included the Who Neuro Behavior Core Test Battery, dynamometric and vibrator assessment of peripheral nerve function, the Nothingham test for psychological functioning and Titmus test for visual acuity. Methyl bromide levels were measured in blood and irine. Blood methyl bromide levels increased from 13.3 to 30 mg/dl after headache, paresthesiae, mood changes and loss of memory and concentration. In these subjects, the threshold for the Vibration test increased from 2.4 to 2.85 sec, dynamometry the score fro negative auto-perception in the Nothingham test from 11.2 to 13.6. No deterioration in these tests were observed in unexposed workers. Acute and chronic methyl bromide exposure causes important psychological and neurological derangement