Health hazards arising from global transport of goods · Health hazards arising from global transport of goods Xaver Baur1,Lygia T. Budnik2, Stefan Kloth2, Alexandra M. 3Preisser2,

Health hazards arising from global transport of goods

Xaver Baur1, Lygia T. Budnik2, Stefan Kloth2, Alexandra M. Preisser2, Heidi Schwarzenbach3

1 Institute for Occupational Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité‐School of Medicine Berlin, Germany. [email protected]

2 Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, Department of Occupational Health, School of Medicine, University of Hamburg, Germany

3 Department of Tumor Biology. School of Medicine, University of Hamburg,

Charité – University Medicine BerlinInstitute for Occupational Medicine

Prof. Dr. med. X. Baur

International transport of consumer goods has increased

during the last two decades

Importing countries require that freight containers should be fumigated by methyl bromid or heat-treated in order to hinter the word wide pest

distribution (IPSM 15)

Hamburg 9 Millionen TEU(2015:18 Millionen)

Rotterdam:11 Millionen TEU

Hazard identification

Container fumigation in India

A crew member was found dead in his cabin one day after a cargo fumigation

BUDNIK

17.11.2004Port workers to be tested for methyl bromide levelsFour Nelson widows, whose husbands died from the degenerative brain

disorder motor neurone disease after years of working for businesses based at the port, are calling for the inquiry. „

Fatalities: pulmonary edema, hemorrhages throughout the body, shrunken brain cells, heart, liver, kidney damage (4 days after 30 min exposure)

Chronic Disorders: mainly respiratory and neurological

Databank www.EOMsociety.orgPatients with Fumigant Intoxications

Aim of our study:

evaluate possible health risks due to toxic chemical residues in containers to:

seafarers, dock workers, container unloaders: transport/warehouse/ storage room workers, controlling bodies (inspecting bodies, customs, water police etc.), and bystanders.

Exposure in container atmosphere could be associated with increased health risk for those entering the container

LTBLTB

BUDNIK

Air measurement of closed container units (ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg)

2006-2012: ~ 5000 Container Units

• field studies (on site devices)• validated lab analyses (TD-GCMS)(also screen for adopted MeBr alternatives)

X. Baur, B. Poschadel, L.T. Budnik Occup. Environ. Med., 67 (2010) 207-212L.T. Budnik, S. Fahrenholtz, S. Kloth, X. Baur J. Environ. Monit. 12 (2010) 936-942.

ChinaSE Asia

Indian Subcontinent

South AmericaEurope & N‐ America

Middle East Africaothers

most

least

Percentage of fumigant residues (for at least one of seven major fumigants and/or toxic industrial chemicals)

Highest concentrations found (single units):

methyl bromide: 750,000 ppb (750 x occupational exposure limit)phosphine: 1,100,000 ppb (11,000 x occupational exposure limit)1,2 dichloroethane: 450,000 ppb (450 x occupational exposure limit)(ethylene dichloride)benzene: 800,000 ppb (800 x occupational exposure limit)toluene: 110,000,000 ppb (2,500 x occupational exposure limit)

70 % exceed community exposure levels chronic RELs, OEHHA

35 % exceed occupational exposure limits acute RELs, NIOSH

0.6 % exceed IDLH (Immediately Dangerous for Life or Health, NIOSH)

products fromfumigated container

products fromfumigated container

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

ethylene dichloridemethyl bromide

methylene chloride propylene

tetrachloro-methanecarbon disulfide

chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 10000 20000 30000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 3000 6000 9000 12000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

propylene dichloride




Measurement data of 4 shoe containers

0 5000 10000 15000 20000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 200000 400000 600000 800000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000


methylene chloride propylene dichloridetetrachloro-methane

carbon disulfidechloropicrin

benzene toluene

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 40000 80000 120000 160000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 10000 20000 30000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 200 400 600 800 1000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 25000 50000 75000 100000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 3000 6000 9000 12000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 20000 40000 60000 80000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000




chloropicrinbenzene

toluene

05000

10000150002000025000

Sulfuryldifluorid

Methylbromid

Schwefelko

hlenstoff

1,2-Dichloret

hanBenzolToluol

Chlorpikrin XChlormethan

Dichlorm

ethan

1,1-Dichloret

han

Trichlormethan

Tetrachlorm

1,2-Dic

1 day in the emission chamber

Cocoa butterCocoa butter

ppb

methyl bromide

24,161 ppb= 94 mg/m3

(mit Headspace‐Analyse GC‐MS)

7.6 mg methyl bromide/ g product

additional analysismethyl bromide in the product

Findings (I)• Fumigation is becoming a standard procedure,

especially in Asia• Fumigated containers are usually not de-fumigated• Other fumigants than methyl bromide are used • Usually no labeling

There is a need for a panel of suitable effect biomarkers for detection of such endangering chemical exposures

Budnik et al., 2013 PLoS ONE 8(5)

. Cell‐free DNA may provide information from intoxicated organs

Data from: Budnik et al., 2013 PLoS ONE 8(5)

Exposure was associated with elevated serum levels of circulating 79 bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA‐79)

serum mtDNA‐79 level serum mtDNA‐79 level

All exposed vs ControlsMeBr exposed vs Controls

Data from: Budnik et al., 2013 PLoS ONE 8(5)

serum mtDNA integrity

p=0.0158

serum mtDNA-230 levelp=0.005

The increased integrity of mtDNA (mtDNA-230/mtDNA-79) in exposed individuals implicates apoptotic processes.

Findings (II)Findings (II)

Our findings• show enhanced hemoglobin adducts and cell free

mtDNA levels (esp. -79) in workers exposed to halogenated hydrocarbon pesticides

• corraborate the data showing increased mtDNA in patients exposed to low levels of benzene (<100 ppb)

Our findings• show enhanced hemoglobin adducts and cell free

mtDNA levels (esp. -79) in workers exposed to halogenated hydrocarbon pesticides

• corraborate the data showing increased mtDNA in patients exposed to low levels of benzene (<100 ppb)

• indicate that mitochondrial DNA has a potential to serve as a biomarker recognizing vulnerable risk groups after exposure to toxic/carcinogenic chemicals

• indicate that mitochondrial DNA has a potential to serve as a biomarker recognizing vulnerable risk groups after exposure to toxic/carcinogenic chemicals

Conclusion: Urgent need for action- to rise awareness of enterprises and endangered

workers- to measure before entering an import container (or

ventilate for at least 6 hours)- to improve regulations at national and international

levels- for controls and sanctions if regulations are not

followed- for medical surveillance of exposed workers- for detailed ongoing studies on the changing toxic

airborne load of import containers and freightand the potential health risk especially of vulnerable consumers

Foto

: Jan

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Internet search from: 28.05.2009AgriSeek.com

Documents

Health hazards arising from global transport of goods · Health hazards arising from global transport of goods Xaver Baur1,Lygia T. Budnik2, Stefan Kloth2, Alexandra M. 3Preisser2,