The agriculture department has legal jurisdiction over pesticide use in the city. A disputed chemical Methyl bromide is a Restricted Use Pesticide, a category of chemicals that requires training and licensing before it can be used, said chemical expert Vern Walter. The restricted use label is reserved for compounds that are inherently toxic by their very nature, he said. Walter, who has used methyl bromide for nearly 50 years, attended a conference on the chemical Monday at the University. Short term, mild exposure to methyl bromide can produce headaches, dizziness, nausea and pain in the chest and throat.
Larger doses can induce slurred speech, blurred vision, temporary blindness, confusion and sweating.
Extreme inhalation can cause lung swelling, congestion, hemorrhaging in the brain, kidney damage, numbness and death. Walter said although acute exposure to the fumigant can be dangerous, low-level inhalation over a period of time is generally not a serious risk. A World Wide Web site maintained by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that although no long-term effects are likely from a single, small exposure, more serious inhalation can cause comas and permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. However, acute exposure to methyl bromide is rare because the chemical dissipates quickly, said Hillary Carpenter, a toxicologist for the state Department of Health. For this reason, he said those who neighbor the Archer Daniels Midland property would be unlikely to face poisonous doses.