ABSTRACT
Methyl iodide is produced by many marine photosynthetic organisms and therefore the ocean surface is thought to be a major natural source of methyl iodide. Some of the methyl iodide formed in ocean water will escape into the atmosphere by evaporation and some will react with chloride in seawater (half-life approximately 20 days at 19 °C) to form methyl chloride. Methyl iodide has been found to be reactive in the troposphere. Photolysis in air may be an important process, but rate data necessary to evaluate the half-life is not known. The most probable route of general population exposure to methyl iodide is via ambient air since it is ubiquitous in the atmosphere. Exposure would also occur from ingesting seafood. Since methyl iodide is used in organic synthesis and as a laboratory reagent, workers and laboratory personnel using this compound are occupationally exposed to this compound.
