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Exposure to phosphine in maritime transport: a real and important occupational risk: a report of three cases
Affiliations- ORPHY Laboratory, University Brest, Brest, France
- Regional agency of health insurance and retirement of Brittany, Av de Cahteaugiron, 35000 Rennes, France
- Regional agency of health insurance and retirement of Normandy, 5 Avenue du Grand Cours,, CS 36028, 76028 Rouen, France
- Regional direction of labour inspection of Brittany, Rue des Néreides, 29200 brest, France
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Abstract
In maritime transport, to assess the risks of insect pests spreading, fumigation is recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Fumigant mostly used for foodstuffs is the phosphine gas generated by the reaction of aluminium phosphide and moisture in the atmosphere. In this article, we first discuss phosphine toxicity to humans and then we describe three cases of occupational exposure in maritime transport of cereals. We found phosphine level higher than 20 ppm in tank atmosphere of bulk carriers and levels from 2 to 3.5 ppm in port silos and port warehouses where cereals were unloaded. Two weeks later, atmospheric measurements in a silo were still at 0.8 ppm. In this case, 3 workers described symptoms which could be linked with phosphine. Exposures to phosphine and cases in maritime transport are surely underestimated. Exposure could occur at sea, in harbour but also in port warehouses, trucks and silos or warehouses along logistic chain. All workers in the chain could be exposed. We can recommend research aiming at the development of alternative techniques using a less harmful gas for humans. At individual level, we propose that, along with the training for employees, workers potentially exposed should wear a test strip (phosphine detector strips) or a personal gas badge with appropriate maintenance.
Abstract
In maritime transport, to assess the risks of insect pests spreading, fumigation is recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Fumigant mostly used for foodstuffs is the phosphine gas generated by the reaction of aluminium phosphide and moisture in the atmosphere. In this article, we first discuss phosphine toxicity to humans and then we describe three cases of occupational exposure in maritime transport of cereals. We found phosphine level higher than 20 ppm in tank atmosphere of bulk carriers and levels from 2 to 3.5 ppm in port silos and port warehouses where cereals were unloaded. Two weeks later, atmospheric measurements in a silo were still at 0.8 ppm. In this case, 3 workers described symptoms which could be linked with phosphine. Exposures to phosphine and cases in maritime transport are surely underestimated. Exposure could occur at sea, in harbour but also in port warehouses, trucks and silos or warehouses along logistic chain. All workers in the chain could be exposed. We can recommend research aiming at the development of alternative techniques using a less harmful gas for humans. At individual level, we propose that, along with the training for employees, workers potentially exposed should wear a test strip (phosphine detector strips) or a personal gas badge with appropriate maintenance.
Keywords
phosphine intoxication, maritime toxicology, fumigants, maritime transport
About this articleTitle
Exposure to phosphine in maritime transport: a real and important occupational risk: a report of three cases
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
181-183
Published online
2018-09-27
Page views
882
Article views/downloads
861
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
IMH 2018;69(3):181-183.
Keywords
phosphine intoxication
maritime toxicology
fumigants
maritime transport
Authors
David Lucas
Gilles Mauguen
Philippe Lesné
Elsa Polard
Dominique Jegaden
References (6)- http://ww2.ac-poitiers.fr/ecogest/spip.php?article901.
- http://www.crsl.com/acatalog/shipping-review-and-outlook.html.
- Redlinger LM, Zettler JL, Leesch JG, et al. In-transit shipboard fumigation of wheat. J Econ Entomol. 1979; 72(4): 642–647.
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5042e/x5042e0n.htm.
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5048e/x5048E0o.htm.
- http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg177.pdf.
