Personal and environmental air sampling of methyl bromide during experimental greenhouse fumigation

In this investigation methyl bromide, a widely used soil fumigant, was investigated with respect to workers exposure and environmental fortification at the greenhouses of Thessaloniki area, Northern Greece. By means of personal and environmental air sampling through charcoal, methyl bromide concentration was measured by gas chromatography using a capillary OV-1 column at 45 degrees C and flame ionization detector (FID). Personal air sampling for two workers showed that the levels of exposure to methyl bromide were 89 and 92 mg/m3 respectively. These values exceeded the safety limits. The mean maximum and mean minimum concentrations in the environmental air samples inside the greenhouse, for 8 hours duration, were 142 mg/m3 and 4 mg/m3, respectively. These concentrations were determined within four and eleven days after the application of methyl bromide.