Accidental exposure to gas emissions from transit goods treated for pest control

Kloth, Stefan; Baur, Xaver; Göen, Thomas; Budnik, Lygia Therese

doi:10.1186/1476-069x-13-110

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In 26 cases of fumigants exposure during unloading containers, majority worked in a warehouse and by laboratory analysis ethylene dichloride, methyl bromide, phosphine and methylene chloride were identified [15]. Also, Kloth et al [16] published a paper on 6 storage room workers exposed to fumigants off gassing from shipped products. They worked in a medium sized European company, which received electronic production parts from south East Asia and South America.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to fumigants in containers: a questionnaire assessment on 125 French dockers

Lucas

Budnik

Baur³

2019

International Maritime Health

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Background: Cases of intoxications to gas from container's atmosphere have been described. For diagnosis, Fum Ex 2 questionnaire has been developed by the European Society for Environmental and Occupational Medicine. The aim of this study was to enhance knowledge on health effects of toxic substances in containers and to validate this questionnaire in medical follow-up and diagnosis. Materials and methods: In 2014, 125 French dockers answered the questionnaire in a face-to-face interview. Results: 83.5% declared no exposure to fumigants or pesticides. Most frequently declared symptoms were fatigue and neurological disorders for dockers and respiratory irritation for refrigeration technicians. Only 28 workers wore regularly individual protection equipment. Conclusions: A "healthy worker" effect could explain low level of symptoms. Fum Ex 2 questionnaire is relevant for diagnosis. Workers in all steps of the logistic transport chain and consumers are exposed to containers' atmosphere.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to fumigants in containers: a questionnaire assessment on 125 French dockers

Lucas

Budnik

Baur³

2019

International Maritime Health

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“…In a medium sized European company, which received electronic production parts from south east Asia and South America, several employees developed signs of intoxication on three occasions within two years [ 30 ]. Six storage room workers were exposed to fumigants off gassing from shipped products.…”

Section: Medical Examination Of Subjects With Suspected Intoxicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1, 3, 4 and 5) additionally complained about paresthesia (pins and needles in the legs), dizziness, breathing difficulties and increasing irritability. After the third incident, patient 4 was on sick leave for several weeks; patients 1 and 3 developed immediate epistaxis with a severe headache [ 30 ]. Air samples taken in the space between the packed electronic parts with trapped gas residues (in the breathing zone of the workers) showed presence of ethylene oxide and methyl bromide.…”

Section: Medical Examination Of Subjects With Suspected Intoxicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…were compared with a healthy control group (n = 30, with median age of 40 yrs.). Patients underwent standardized medical examination for the symptoms of fumigant intoxication as described earlier [ 31 , 27 , 30 ]. No significantly elevated bromide levels in any of the analyzed serum samples were detected.…”

Section: Medical Examination Of Subjects With Suspected Intoxicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health risks in international container and bulk cargo transport due to volatile toxic compounds

Baur

Budnik

Zhao

et al. 2015

J Occup Med Toxicol

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To ensure the preservation and quality of the goods, physical (i.e. radiation) or chemical pest control is needed. The dark side of such consents may bear health risks in international transport and production sharing. In fact, between 10% and 20% of all containers arriving European harbors were shown to contain volatile toxic substances above the exposure limit values. Possible exposure to these toxic chemicals may occur not only for the applicators but also the receiver by off gassing from products, packing materials or transport units like containers. A number of intoxications, some with lethal outcome, occur not only during the fumigation, but also during freight transport (on bulk carriers and other transport vessels), as well as in the logistic lines during loading and unloading. Risk occupations include dock-workers, seafarers, inspectors, as well as the usually uninformed workers of importing enterprises that unload the products. Bystanders as well as vulnerable consumers may also be at risk. Ongoing studies focus on the release of these toxic volatile substances from various goods. It was shown that the half-lives of the off-gassing process range between minutes and months, depending on the toxic substance, its chemical reactivity, concentration, the temperature, the contaminated matrix (goods and packing materials), and the packing density in the transport units. Regulations on declaration and handling dangerous goods are mostly not followed.It is obvious that this hazardous situation in freight transport urgently requires preventive steps. In order to improve awareness and relevant knowledge there is a need for more comprehensive information on chemical hazards and a broader implementation of the already existing regulations and guidelines, such as those from ILO, IMO, and national authorities. It is also necessary to have regular controls by the authorities on a worldwide scale, which should be followed by sanctions in case of disregarding regulations. Further, fumigated containers must have a warning sign corresponding to international recommendations and national regulations, and freight documents have to indicate any potential hazard during stripping the goods.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12995-015-0059-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…However, methyl bromide is phased out in conjunction with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer because it is an ozone depleting substance [11,12]. Nevertheless, methyl bromide is still allowed in cases of critical use exemptions wherever adequate alternative is not available for this purpose [13].…”

Section: The International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No 1mentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Pollutants in Closed Spaces of Transportation and Storage of Non-Dangerous Goods: A Combined Qualitative Approach

Lovas

Varga

Ádám

2020

Preprint

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Background: Several chemical pollutants can accumulate in closed spaces of transportation and storage of non-dangerous goods, leading to high concentrations. Pollutants are mainly residues of pesticides used to prevent the spread of harmful organisms in intercontinental transportation, volatile organic compounds and components of diesel engine exhaust. The objectives of this cross-sectional qualitative study were to identify and evaluate the regulations in connection with the occupational chemical exposures caused by chemical pollutants in closed environments of transportation and storage, and to survey the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of occupational health and safety professionals and logistics managers related to this global workplace issue. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search of legal instruments was carried out in international, European Union and Hungarian legislation databases. Legal documents relevant for occupational chemical exposure at workplaces were included in the study and the legal relationships between selected documents were mapped. The systematic search of legal instruments identified 4737 records, of which 16 were included in the in-depth content analysis. According to the second objective, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were carried out with occupational health and safety professionals and warehouse managers at logistics companies located in Hungary. Results: The analysis of the documents highlighted the lack of explicit regulation on prevention from exposures caused by chemical pollutants in closed environments of transportation and storage of non-hazardous materials. The 21 completed interviews revealed that the professionals had very limited knowledge about the potential presence of chemical residues in closed spaces of transportation and storage. They deemed such chemical exposure rare and the related health effects negligible. Although legislation requires the risk assessment of workplaces, the assessment is misleading if potential hazards are not identified. Conclusions: The increasing risk of rapid global spread of harmful organisms due to climate change and dense international traffic results in growing need for fumigation, which, together with increasing temperature and transportation time, generates an emerging occupational and public health challenge. The revealed limitations point out that the chemical safety of transportation and storage of non-dangerous goods should be more specifically regulated and responsible professionals should be better informed about such workplace hazards.

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Accidental exposure to gas emissions from transit goods treated for pest control

Cited by 17 publications

References 37 publications

Exposure to fumigants in containers: a questionnaire assessment on 125 French dockers

Exposure to fumigants in containers: a questionnaire assessment on 125 French dockers

Health risks in international container and bulk cargo transport due to volatile toxic compounds

Chemical Pollutants in Closed Spaces of Transportation and Storage of Non-Dangerous Goods: A Combined Qualitative Approach

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