Aerosol Propellant Abuse and Toxicity

Abstract

ABSTRACTSince the early 1960's, volatile solvent abuse has become epidemic among American teenagers. Recently aerosols have become the major products of abuse. Common propellents in aerosols are the fluorocarbons: trichlorofluoromethane (FC11), dichlorodifluoromethane (FC 12) and dichlorotetrafluoroethane (FC 114).Initial studies indicated that these fluorocarbons have a low degree of toxicity in humans. However, due to recent abuse, over a hundred deaths have been attributed to the “sniffing” of aerosol products. Fluorocarbon propellents appear to induce a phenomenon called “sudden sniffing death syndrome” which is characterized by sudden and unexpected death without asphyxial suffocation by a plastic bag. Animal studies have revealed that fluorocarbons in high concentrations have a direct cardiotoxic effect and either independently of or synergistically with endogenous catecholamines induce cardiac arrhythmias. This cardiotoxicity of the fluorocarbons may well explain the sudden death of aerosol abusers.