Table 1.

Toxic effects of methyl bromide (data 1990-2011)

Effect observed	Ref.
in vitro
chromosomal aberration (mammalian cells exposed to gaseous methyl bromide)	[54]
Sister chromatid exchange and chromosome aberrations in lymphocytes
O-6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase	[49]
genotoxic in bacteria (Ames test)	[23]
Genotoxicity in workers exposed to methyl bromide	[88]
in vivo
toxic encephalopathies (animal experiments)	[65]
immunoreactive HSP 70 in rat olfactory receptor neurone	[64]
DNA methylation (rat, mice)	[48]
reduction in the white blood cells (rat)	[89]
increase in SCOT, SGPT activities (mice)	[89]
hepatic and glomerular injuries (mice)	[89]
MMP-9, matrix-metalloproteinase -9 and -2, MMP-2 expression in olfactory bulb following methal bromide gas exposure (mice)	[66]
human
irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory system; muscle weakness, coordination loss, visual disturbance, dizziness; nausea, vomiting, headache; malaise (vague feeling of discomfort); hand tremor; convulsions; dyspnea (breathing difficulty); skin vesiculation; liquor frostbite; [potential occupational carcinogen]	[11,34]
acute poisoning: ataxia, behavioral changes, seizures, coma chronic low level exposure: peripheral neuropathy, electroencephalogram abnormalities, deficits on the Wechsler memory scale (on 2-point discrimination at the index scale)	[90]
headache, dizziness, nausea	[11,34]
chronic exposure: central and peripheral system disorders, cerebro-vestibular and pyramidal neuropathy of lower
limbs, paresthesia cerebro-vestibular and pyramidal neuropathy of lower limbs, paresthesis
motor neuron disease	[16]
acute exposure (high concentration): refractory seizures, intermittent fever, multiorgan system failure, death	[13]
liver degenerative changes	[1]
reduction of lung function, chest pain, shortness of breath, inflammation of the lung	[1]
erectile dysfunction	[38]
central nervous system toxicity and early peripheral neuropathy following dermal exposure	[36]
diffuse lesions in the spleen of the corpus callosum	[91]