Background: Since the introduction of stents in 1994, improved clinical results have boosted the development of coronary angioplasty in Chile. Drug eluting stents, that have a reduced rate of restenosis, are being increasingly used.
Aim: To assess the acute and long-term results of bare metal stent implantation.
Objectives: To evaluate the health effects of methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) and other byproducts resulting from the soil-incorporated (shank) application of 25,000 pounds of metam-sodium on July 8, 2002, near the community of Arvin, California.
Methods: Residents in a four-block area were interviewed regarding eye and upper respiratory irritation, non-specific systemic symptoms, and lower respiratory complaints. The distribution of cases was compared to results of Industrial Source Complex (ISC3) air dispersion modeling for the metam-sodium byproduct, methyl isothiocyanate (MITC).