Thread: How much residual Methyl Bromide is potentially in MB treated pine pallets?

Fuzzie, the shelves look good. Well, now you have made an informed decision based upon a diversity of responses. I respect that right.

In these times of increasing litigation, I'm not sure I would (knowingly) pass on any items made from pallets branded "MB treated." For those selling wooden items and have some form of product liability & public liability insurance I believe your insurer would advise / instruct you to not use MB treated pallet wood.

As I mentioned earlier, a significant proportion of wood/timber imported/exported/re-exported from most of the world has probably been MB treated at some time in its journey to us.

It is interesting that all the pallet manufacturers who supply MB treated pallets advise against recycling / using the wood from them in gardens, and against burning. "Methyl bromide can seep out of the wood and into your garden bed" "You cannot use methyl bromide treated pallets as firewood" etc.

MB is quite widely used. The interesting thing is that we are probably ingesting minor quantities of MB almost daily as it is very widely used as a fumigant in agriculture; bulk cereal, nut, & flour storage; to protect crops like tomatoes produced in greenhouse systems, etc.

There is quite a body of research on residual MB in foodstuffs,

"The second trial evaluated the bromide ion concentrations of rices, white flours, flours, pastas made only from flours, pastas with eggs and pastas with eggs and spinach, before and after exposure to methyl bromide in their retail packagings. The bromide ion concentrations in fumigated pastas with eggs, pastas with eggs and spinach and rice were higher than in those unfumigated. In the pastas with eggs the bromide ion concentration after fumigation increased ten times (from about 4 to 40 mg/kg). Results showed that the bromide ion and methyl bromide levels estimated in all the foodstuffs examined were lower than the maximum limits fixed by several different national regulations."

So the presence of proteins and "fatty" components do increase residual MB levels. What is a safe level? I guess that may change as research improves our understanding of the hazards, associated risk and potential / known harm (or lack of it.)

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Fuzzie, the shelves look good. Well, now you have made an informed decision based upon a diversity of responses. I respect that right.

Thanks. I promise not to chew on them.

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

Thanks. I promise not to chew on them.

Is that a pinky promise.

Originally Posted by Fumbler

[FONT=Verdana]Why don't we do a " MB scrap wood challenge", we'll all make some toys, label them "made from pallets treated with Methyl Bromide" and see many get sold.

Answer - ZERO

I dunno, judging by the stench of stuff I've bought from o/seas when opening the packaging at times, this business practice seems to be working well for China! ;-)