Journal of Korean Epilepsy Society  2003;7(2):125-129

Two Cases of Methyl Bromide Intoxication with Seizures and Altered Mental State.

Kwang Deog JO 1 ; Soo Bin YIM ; Soon Keum LEE ; Seong Hoon CHOI ; Tae Hoon KIM ; Koon Hee HAN ; Kyung Il SONG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Methyl bromide; Neurotoxicity; Seizure

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Methyl bromide is presently used as a fumigant for insects in soil, grains or fruit in storage or transport. It is a neurotoxic agent and has been responsible a number of deaths or acute poisonings among occupationally exposed persons. We report 2 patients, who had worked fumigation warehouse, presented with seizures and altered mental state. The serum concentrations of bromide were elevated 32.9 and 42.5 mg/l, respectively. Brain MRI showed bilateral symmetric high signal intensities in the splenium of corpus callosum, the globus pallidus, the quadrigeminal plate, the periaqueductal gray matter, the red nucleus, the substantia nigra, the medial lemniscus, the pontine tegmentum, the dentate nucleus, and the medulla. There was no brain lesion in the other patient. Appropriate and supervised handling of the chemical and regular education to workers are important to avoid the risk of methyl bromide poisoning.