Refrigerant poisoning

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Refrigerant poisoning

Definition:

This is poisoning from exposure to a refrigerant, a chemical that makes things cold.

The most common poisoning occurs when people intentionally sniff a type of refrigerant called freon. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to long-term brain damage and sudden death.

An overdose of refrigerant can also occur by swallowing the substance.

Alternative Names:

Coolant poisoning; Freon poisoning; Fluorinated hydrocarbon poisoning; Sudden sniffing death syndrome

Poisonous Ingredient:

Fluorinated hydrocarbons

Where Found:

Various refrigerants
Some fumigants

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Review Date: 2/28/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

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