Choi Jungmi, Cha Wonseok, Hong Young-Seoub, Park Min-Goo
Human Anti-Aging Standards Research Institute, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 30;20(7):e0328580. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328580. eCollection 2025.
Methyl bromide (MB) is a potent fumigant used to control pests in soil and agricultural products. As an ozone-depleting substance, MB has been largely replaced by safer alternatives. MB is highly toxic to humans and has been shown to adversely affect asymptomatic workers' central and autonomic nervous systems and vascular health. However, its impact on perceptual and cognitive abilities remains underexplored. In this study, we examined the effects of MB exposure on cognitive functions in asymptomatic workers. Event-related potential (ERP) indices, which reflect perceptual and cognitive processes, and urinary bromide ion (Br-) concentrations were assessed in 32 fumigators (study group) and 18 inspectors (control group) before and after fumigation. Post-work ERP latency and amplitude changes in inspectors were significant (P < 0.01), similar to those observed in healthy individuals. In contrast, ERP changes in fumigators were not significant compared to pre-work values; this suggests that MB negatively impacts cognitive health. Additionally, Br‑ levels in fumigators rose sharply after work (P < 0.001), while inspectors showed no such increase. The elevated Br- levels and nonenhanced ERP indices in fumigators after MB exposure indicate adverse health effects despite the absence of symptoms.
甲基溴（MB）是一种强效熏蒸剂，用于控制土壤和农产品中的害虫。作为一种消耗臭氧层物质，MB已在很大程度上被更安全的替代品所取代。MB对人类具有高毒性，已被证明会对无症状工人的中枢和自主神经系统以及血管健康产生不利影响。然而，其对感知和认知能力的影响仍未得到充分研究。在本研究中，我们检查了MB暴露对无症状工人认知功能的影响。在熏蒸前后，对32名熏蒸工人（研究组）和18名检查员（对照组）评估了反映感知和认知过程的事件相关电位（ERP）指标以及尿溴离子（Br-）浓度。工作后检查员的ERP潜伏期和波幅变化显著（P < 0.01），与在健康个体中观察到的情况相似。相比之下，熏蒸工人的ERP变化与工作前的值相比不显著；这表明MB对认知健康有负面影响。此外，熏蒸工人工作后的Br‑水平急剧上升（P < 0.001），而检查员则没有这种增加。MB暴露后熏蒸工人Br-水平升高和ERP指标未增强表明尽管没有症状但仍存在健康不良影响。
