Freon poisoning
The term freons (freons, refrigerants) denote a group that combines gaseous substances and low-boiling liquids, colorless, with a faint odor, readily soluble in organic solvents, as well as in many lubricating oils, and practically insoluble in water and polar solvents.
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They are non-flammable, do not form explosive mixtures with air and are relatively inert.
Chemically, all freons are a mixture of methane and ethane, in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine and chlorine atoms, i.e. saturated fluorine and chlorine-containing hydrocarbons.
More than 40 varieties are known in the industry, the most commonly used are R-12, R-22, R-134a, R-407C, R-410A. They are mainly used as refrigerants in refrigeration and freezing installations. In addition, the following are widely used:
- as propellants (inert substances that create excess pressure in aerosol cans) in cosmetology, food and pharmaceutical industries, in the production of varnishes and paints;
- as gaseous dielectrics;
- as inhalation anesthetics;
- as part of flame-extinguishing mixtures;
- as solvents in dry cleaning;
- as foaming agents in the production of foamed plastics;
- as a raw material for the production of some organofluorine compounds.
It has been proven that, accumulating in the atmosphere, freons are capable of destroying ozone molecules by contacting them, and thereby damage the ozone layer of the atmosphere. The 1985 Vienna Convention and the 1987 Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer limited the production of certain chlorofluorocarbons.
The bulk of freons is low-toxic, which is the reason for their ubiquity. Once in the body, they are not metabolized to form toxic intermediates, but are excreted unchanged. Combustion products of refrigerants are toxic when heated above 250–400 ºС. These include, for example, the combustion products of Freon-22 - tetrafluoroethylene, a vascular poison that has neuro- and nephrotoxic effects, and phosgene, a powerful poisonous substance that causes pulmonary edema.
However, there are also toxic freons (for example, freon-253), which, when inhaled for a long time, have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular, central nervous and respiratory systems. Inhalation of high concentrations of freons (above 30% of the total air volume in an isolated room) develops oxygen starvation.
How does freon poisoning happen?
Poisoning occurs when the maximum permissible concentration of a substance in the air in isolated conditions is exceeded or when freon combustion products are released, which is possible in the following situations:
- leakage of equipment that uses freon (refrigerator, air conditioner) in an unventilated room;
- extinguishing fires with devices containing freons;
- emergency burning of freons;
- emergency situations at work;
- deliberate use of freons for suicidal purposes.
Poisoning symptoms
In case of poisoning with high concentrations of freons, symptoms of acute oxygen starvation develop:
- neuromuscular excitement, alternating with lethargy, slowing down of reactions;
- depression of consciousness (the victim is only partially accessible to contact);
- slight feeling of intoxication;
- unsteadiness and unsteadiness of gait;
- hyperemia or cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes;
- dizziness, headache;
- dyspnea;
- noise, ringing in the ears, flashing "flies" before the eyes;
- increased heart rate.
Poisoning with the decomposition products of freons appears some time after direct exposure (from 1-2 hours to 1-2 days). In the latent period, the victim does not present active complaints, an unpleasant sweetish taste in the mouth and a urge to cough may appear. Then there are obvious symptoms of acute poisoning by the decomposition products of freons:
- perspiration, burning sensation in the nasopharynx;
- nausea, vomiting;
- excruciating paroxysmal cough;
- discomfort, feeling of congestion in the chest;
- shortness of breath up to 50-60 per minute, turning into choking;
- increased heart rate;
- cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes;
- the strongest mental and motor excitement;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure.
Source: depositphotos.com
Exposure to high concentrations of refrigerant decomposition products is more likely to result in pulmonary edema with subsequent death. Much less often on days 2–3 there is an improvement in the condition of the victim, the reverse development of symptoms of poisoning. In this case, there is a high probability of secondary infection and the development of bacterial complications.
Possible contact of liquid freon on the skin. This leads to the appearance of the typical symptoms of frostbite: blisters filled with serous fluid, with massive exposure - necrosis of the surface layers of the skin.
First aid for freon poisoning
When taking freons inside:
- Rinse the stomach with plenty of warm water or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate, for which drink 1-1.5 liters of liquid and induce a gag reflex by pressing on the root of the tongue.
- Take a saline laxative (magnesium sulfate).
- Take enetrosorbent (Enterosgel, Polysorb, Polyphepan, Atoxil or any other).
For inhalation of freon vapors:
- Remove the victim from the lesion, stop contact with the poisonous substance.
- Provide access to fresh air (unfasten tight clothing, open windows, doors).
In case of clinical death (lack of consciousness, breathing, pulse in the carotid arteries and pupil response to light), you should immediately proceed to basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (mouth-to-mouth breathing, chest compressions).
In case of contact with the skin, wash off the substance with plenty of running water, if there are bubbles or foci of necrosis on the skin, apply an aseptic bandage.
When is medical attention required?
Medical assistance is needed if:
- a child, pregnant woman or elderly person is injured;
- freon was taken internally;
- frostbite of the skin occurred with the development of foci of necrosis;
- the victim breathed in vapors from the combustion of freons or was in an emergency center, where air was contaminated with decay products;
- there are signs of damage to the nervous system;
- intense shortness of breath and cough are observed;
- the victim presents complaints of a cardiological nature.
After providing first aid, the victim is hospitalized in the toxicology or pulmonology department, where he receives specific treatment:
- intubation, mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy in case of coma and respiratory depression;
- stimulation of the respiratory center - 10% caffeine, cordiamine;
- in severe cases - hemosorption, forced diuresis, exchange transfusion (5-6 liters);
- in the first hours of poisoning with coma and kidney damage, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis are prescribed;
- in acute liver failure, a solution of choline chloride in a 5% glucose solution, pyridoxine hydrochloride and cyanocobalamin, hepatoprotectors are injected intravenously;
- with the development of bacterial complications, antibacterial, glucocorticosteroid drugs are prescribed.
Possible consequences
The consequence of severe freon poisoning can be:
- acute heart failure;
- acute respiratory failure;
- acute liver failure;
- acute renal failure;
- pulmonary edema;
- coma, death.
Prevention
- When installing equipment containing freon, carefully monitor its tightness.
- Use personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, respirator or gas mask) when extinguishing fires, being in the lesion focus.
- When working in production where refrigerants are used, strictly observe safety requirements.
Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author
Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
