Other secondary sources include The Merck Index and EPA's Health Effects Assessment for Bromomethane . Workers who fumigate homes and fields may be exposed to high levels of methyl bromide if proper safety precautions are not followed. Methyl bromide has been detected in drinking water.
Some methyl bromide is formed naturally by algae or kelp in the ocean.
Inhaling large amounts of methyl bromide may cause pulmonary edema, impairing respiratory function. Acute exposure by inhalation of methyl bromide frequently leads to neurological effects in humans. Acute exposure may produce delayed effects. Symptoms may improve without treatment in less serious cases. Methyl bromide is irritating to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.