Toxic Exposure to Methyl bromide, a Case Study and a Review

Introduction Methyl bromide (MeBr) is a soil fumigant that has been phased out by most countries by the early 2000s. Case Presentation A 37 years old male patient came to the emergency department (ED) to seek the medical advice for dysarthria and acute inability to walk. He gave a history of occupational exposure to methyl bromide due to a leak from fumigation tube 2 days before the onset of illness. Electroencephalogram and other necessary investigations were done. Serum bromide was very high. The patient was admitted and given chelation therapy with monitoring of bromide levels until decreased to a minimum. The patient had mild psychosis and was referred to a psychiatrist. Conclusion Methyl bromide is a hazardous chemical that had been phased out by most countries. The developing countries, including Egypt, show lag in legislations controlling chemical hazards use with subsequent health effects due to human exposure.