Health risks in international container and bulk cargo transport due to volatile toxic compounds

Abstract

To ensure the preservation and quality of the goods, physical (i.e. radiation) or chemical pest control is needed. The dark side of such consents may bear health risks in international transport and production sharing. In fact, between 10% and 20% of all containers arriving European harbors were shown to contain volatile toxic substances above the exposure limit values. Possible exposure to these toxic chemicals may occur not only for the applicators but also the receiver by off gassing from products, packing materials or transport units like containers. A number of intoxications, some with lethal outcome, occur not only during the fumigation, but also during freight transport (on bulk carriers and other transport vessels), as well as in the logistic lines during loading and unloading. Risk occupations include dock-workers, seafarers, inspectors, as well as the usually uninformed workers of importing enterprises that unload the products. Bystanders as well as vulnerable consumers may also be at risk. Ongoing studies focus on the release of these toxic volatile substances from various goods. It was shown that the half-lives of the off-gassing process range between minutes and months, depending on the toxic substance, its chemical reactivity, concentration, the temperature, the contaminated matrix (goods and packing materials), and the packing density in the transport units. Regulations on declaration and handling dangerous goods are mostly not followed.It is obvious that this hazardous situation in freight transport urgently requires preventive steps. In order to improve awareness and relevant knowledge there is a need for more comprehensive information on chemical hazards and a broader implementation of the already existing regulations and guidelines, such as those from ILO, IMO, and national authorities. It is also necessary to have regular controls by the authorities on a worldwide scale, which should be followed by sanctions in case of disregarding regulations. Further, fumigated containers must have a warning sign corresponding to international recommendations and national regulations, and freight documents have to indicate any potential hazard during stripping the goods.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12995-015-0059-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chemical Pollutants in Closed Spaces of Transportation and Storage of Non-Dangerous Goods: A Combined Qualitative Approach

“…They are typically volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with various health effects. The most commonly released VOCs during transportation and storage are benzene, xylene, ethyl benzene, toluene, ethanol, chloromethane, acetone and formaldehyde [5,16,17]. VOCs are typically emitted by products, which contain paint materials, solvents, lacquers, glues, wood preservatives, adhesives, etc.…”

“…Employees who work inside the closed spaces of transportation and storage of non-dangerous goods may be exposed to increased concentrations of these pollutants and posed to risk of acute and chronic health effects [16,17,18]. Furthermore, these chemicals pollute not only the workplace air but also the general environment, contributing to the global environmental challenges [19,20].…”

Late effects of mass acute phosphine poisoning – Case report

“…Działania te przebiegają w warunkach presji czasu. Z tych względów, w przypadku zbiorowego zatrucia i ograniczonej możliwości wykonywania swoich zadań przez członków załogi, kierowanie statkiem z zachowaniem wszelkich zasad bezpieczeństwa może być szczególnie trudne [5]. W przypadku zatrucia załogi statku na morzu zdarzenie to wydaje się więc mieć dla niej poważniejsze skutki zdrowotne -somatyczne i psychiczne, związane zarówno z dysfunkcją ośrodkowego układu nerwowego (OUN) w wyniku zatrucia, jak i doświadczenia ostrego stresu [6].…”

UTILITY OF CYANIDE ION REMEDIATION RESIDUES TO PREPARE ACTIVE RODENTICIDE ACCESSING TO ZERO RESIDUE LEVEL: SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS Rattus rattus AS CASE STUDY

“…Also copper cyanide was used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy by Japanese doctors in the early of 20 th century [21]. Furthermore, cyanide is used as an insecticide for fumigation of ships and their cargoes [22]; moreover cyanide salts have been and are still used in some regions as a toxic killer for mice rats and other types of rodents and as pesticides to eliminate ants [23]. So, generally the cyanide compounds form a great proportion of residues disposed from coke oven, blast furnace, mining activities, electroplating operations etc.…”