Description of Toluene Inhibition of Methyl Bromide Biodegradation in Seawater and Isolation of a Marine Toluene Oxidizer That Degrades Methyl Bromide

Description of toluene inhibition of methyl bromide biodegradation in seawater and isolation of a marine toluene oxidizer that degrades methyl bromide.

Methyl bromide (CH3Br) and methyl chloride (CH3Cl) are important precursors for destruction of stratospheric ozone, and oceanic uptake is an important component of the biogeochemical cycle of these methyl halides. In an effort to identify and characterize the organisms mediating halocarbon biodegradation, we surveyed the effect of potential cometabolic substrates on CH3Br biodegradation using a...

Methyl bromide alternatives evaluated

Methyl bromide under fire.

Methyl Bromide under Fire Methyl bromide is one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, a broad-spectrum fumigant effective in controlling insects, nematodes, fungi, and bacteria. Methyl bromide is also highly toxic to humans. In December 1993, the EPA listed methyl bromide as a stratospheric ozone-depleting substance subject to phase-out. The final rule, issued 1 January 1994, freezes...

Slice imaging of methyl bromide

Methyl bromide poisoning.

Methyl bromide is a highly volatile liquid which disperses rapidly and readily. As a fumigant it ranks amongst the most efficient because of its extremely effective penetrating power and absence of fire or explosion hazard. It is, unfortunately, highly toxic and poisoning occurs readily in circumstances of careless or inadvertent exposure. Before 1940, only 42 cases of methyl bromide poisoning ...