Fumigated shipping containers – venting prior to unpacking (by end user)

Shipping containers that have been fumigated and ventilated by fumigators may still contain a significant quantity of methyl bromide (MeBr) due to poor venting procedures, desorption or entrapment of the gas in the packaging. This may present a risk to persons involved in unpacking these containers.

Methyl bromide affects the central nervous system. Depending on the level of exposure, inhalation of MeBr may cause dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, numbness, tremors and speech defects. Exposure to very high concentrations may cause pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs) as MeBr is an irritant. Chronic exposures may also affect various other organs. The national exposure standard for MeBr is five parts per million (ppm) averaged over eight hours.