Sudden death caused by 1,1-difluoroethane inhalation.
A 20-year-old man was found dead on the floor next to a computer, with a nearly full can of "CRC Duster" dust remover located next to the deceased on the floor, and an empty can of the same product on the computer desk. Toxicologic evaluation using either gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) method identified the active ingredient 1,1-difluoroethane (Freon 152a) in all tissues analyzed. Tissue distribution studies revealed highest concentration in central blood, lung, and liver. It is believed that the 1,1-difluoroethane inhalation was the cause of death.
Xiong
Zhenggang
Z
Department of Pathology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA. zhxiong@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Avella
Joseph
J
Wetli
Charles V
CV
D000328:Adult; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005410:Flame Ionization; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001239:Inhalation; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D012997:Solvents; C059268:1,1-difluoroethane