Method development for detection and quantification of toxic volatile residues from consumer goods, transported in fumigated shipping containers

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Project

Production processes

This project contributes to the research aim 'Production processes'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Production processes

Project code: JKI-ÖPV-08-1334
Contract period: 01.01.2016 - 31.12.2018
Purpose of research: Applied research

Fumigation of transport containers is common practice to protect consumer goods from pests in liner shipping. For this purpose, transported goods will be fumigated directly in the container. The contact time of the goods with the fumigant is normally in the range of 24 h to 72 h. However, due to illegal fumigation or improper and/or poor ventilation of the fumigated container, contact times with the fumigant can be much longer. For fumigation the following gases are commonly used: methyl bromide (CH3Br), phosphine (PH3) or 1,2-dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2). The used fumigants are highly toxic not only to pest insects but also to humans. Based on high fumigant concentrations in shipping containers, the goods may absorb significant amounts of the fumigants. Current experiments have shown, depending on the gas used, that adsorbed fumigants can be released for up to several months. The risk assessment of desorbing fumigants from goods and subsequent possible contact times with consumers should be therefore calculated for each chemical separately. A broad variety of goods is actually fumigated when transported on ships in containers overseas (leather shoes, toys, textiles, furniture, mattresses, packed food and tobacco). Furthermore, there is evidence for interactions of the fumigants with the product constituents, which may change specific product characteristics.

In this project the off-gassing of fumigants, used for treatment of international shipping containers, was studied. Furthermore changes in the volatile profile of transported goods by fumigantion were investigated. The results show that some products absorb high quantities of the fumigants. After the end of the fumigation process, substance release occurs in dependance of product properties and applied chemicals. Our results point at first on a potential risk for employees, concerned with container unloading. The acute risk to the consumer is considered low. However, consequences of the observed changes in volatile profiles remain uncertain. Furthermore, there is the possibility of combined effects of fumigants and industrial chemicals.

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