A novel mass spectrometric technique for the evaluation ofoccupational exposure to methyl bromide

Methyl bromide (MeBr) is one of the best known insecticides,used as a fumigant of field soil since 1932. It reacts vianucleophilic substitution with DNA and proteins, leading tomutagenic effects, widely reported in the literature. Methylbromide is a colourless gas with little odour at potentially toxic concentrations; as a consequence, severe exposures can occurunknowingly and occupationally exposed workers should undergoconstant biomonitoring.