What does freon smell like and is it dangerous for humans, what are the symptoms and consequences of poisoning with the substance?

freon gas

The cooling element in refrigerators, filler for gas cartridges, solvents and air conditioners are all the same substances - freons. They have entered our lives so widely that it is difficult to imagine a comfortable existence without them.

Useful and at the same time poisonous compounds are found in things without which life today is no longer possible. Therefore, I would like to know more about these fillers. Is freon harmful in life and how to protect yourself from possible poisoning? Let's find out.

Causes

Varieties of freon R-134a, R-407C, R-410A are more often used in production. They are used as cooling fillers for air conditioners and freezers. In the chemical industry, freon is necessary for foaming foam. A small concentration of the substance makes it possible to obtain an aerosol anesthetic that is widely used in pharmaceuticals. Volatile refrigerant is used in everyday life, cosmetology, food and paint industries. A leak from a refrigerator cannot lead to fatal poisoning, but with large losses of freon (which is typical for production), severe poisoning occurs.

Freon itself is low-toxic, but its safety is determined by the degree of purification. More often it is in a liquid state, but if leaked, it quickly evaporates, turning into gas. The combustion products of refrigerants are dangerous to humans. Some types of freons, namely freon-253, when inhaled, cause central nervous system paralysis and pulmonary edema.

If the content of freons in the air exceeds 30%, then hypoxia develops. It is unlikely that such poisoning will occur if the substance leaks from the refrigerator, unless the equipment is located in an unventilated area. The same can be said about a refrigerant leak from the air conditioner of a car located in a closed garage.

In production, emergency combustion of refrigerants is possible, as well as breakdown of industrial devices and leakage of a significant amount of this substance. If liquid refrigerant is lost in large quantities, mild frostbite cannot be avoided. Due to exposure to large doses of the substance, coma may develop.

Which devices contain freons?

As already noted, these compounds are used in refrigeration units. But the refrigerator is not the only item with dangerous contents inside. What else does freon contain?

This is a standard filler in modern air conditioners. Although it is almost impossible to be poisoned by freon from an air conditioner.
Freons are contained in solvents.
They are used to produce foaming agents, which are widely used in construction.
Propellants are created using refrigerants (paint, polyurethane foam, varnishes and even shaving foam).

In all cooling devices, freons are isolated from surrounding people and leakage occurs only due to a manufacturing defect or after an impact. Other products contain freon in negligible quantities and it is easier to get poisoned by accompanying fillers. So is freon harmful to humans? In rare cases, due to unfortunate circumstances, poisoning can occur.

Symptoms

If liquid freon gets on the skin, signs of burns occur. Blisters filled with clear liquid appear. In reality, frostbite occurs with characteristic clinical manifestations. The symptoms look different when you inhale freon. The larynx is irritated, and signs characteristic of ARVI in the initial stage appear.

Let's name the characteristic symptoms of poisoning:

redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes and swelling of the palate;
shortness of breath and heavy breathing;
Drunk;
hoarseness in the voice.

With significant freon poisoning, symptoms of hypoxia appear. Tremor of the limbs is observed, coordination of movements is impaired. In case of severe freon poisoning, signs such as hallucinations, cyanosis, suffocation, and pulmonary edema are added.

We need to figure out what caused the poisoning. Intoxication is not always associated with refrigerant exposure. If we are talking about production and the chemical industry, then the victim may become a victim of mixed poisoning.

What is freon

The history of freon began in 1928. This artificial chemical compound was synthesized in the laboratory of General Motors Corporation, and received the name “freon” - frigor (cold), after its industrial production began at the DuPont plant. In the Soviet Union they used a different term - freon.

Freon is the name of a group of saturated fluorinated hydrocarbons, which are varieties of ethane and methane compounds that may also contain chlorine and/or bromine atoms. Of the known 40 brands, 16 types of this substance are produced today. Release form: highly volatile liquid or inert gas, colorless and odorless. Liquid varieties combine well with organic solvents and lubricating oils, but do not dissolve in water.

Currently, an international designation standard has been adopted for the group of fluorocarbons, consisting of the letter R (Refrigerant - cooler) and a digital code that indicates the quantitative content of fluorine, carbon and hydrogen atoms in this particular brand of freon.

First aid

On-site assistance for freon poisoning includes washing the areas of the body that have been in contact with the freon with plenty of water and applying a sterile bandage. To allow air to flow, clothes are unbuttoned and the victim is taken out of the room to the street. In case of respiratory arrest, artificial ventilation is necessary.

Regardless of the victim’s condition, an ambulance is called. Even if a person is ready to move independently after poisoning, it is better to wait for doctors to arrive in order to assess the degree of intoxication and carry out diagnostics in case the person was not poisoned by freon.

When the victim is conscious, first aid involves cleansing the stomach and detoxifying the body. For this purpose, they induce vomiting, give a laxative, and after 30 minutes they offer any sorbent. In case of poisoning of unknown etiology, blood pressure and pulse are monitored until doctors arrive.

The danger of freon for people

Is freon harmful to humans? Theoretically yes, but practically no. However, people tend to exaggerate the real threat from its leakage, which they may encounter when household appliances break down or when the cans are damaged. All freons that are used in modern household appliances are non-flammable and absolutely harmless to humans.

The smell of freon from the refrigerator is indefinable, and since the gas is not toxic, it is not “tinted” with special odorants, such as household gas. Freon leaks are also invisible, since its gaseous state, like its liquid state, is absolutely colorless.

Is freon from the refrigerator harmful?

A freon leak will not cause any harm to either a person or a refrigerator. Possible minor damage will be incurred by the family budget - an increase in the temperature in the refrigerator compartment will inevitably lead to food spoiling much faster.

In addition, it should be noted that R-22, which is supposedly dangerous for humans, from which it is possible to obtain the chemical warfare agent phosgene, becomes toxic at t ⩾ +400 °C. Only under this condition does it release tetrafluoroethylene, classified as hazard class IV, hydrogen chloride, hazard class II, and a small amount of hydrogen fluoride, the highest hazard class I.

Today, R-22 is prohibited for the production of any household appliances and items. It has been replaced by safe R-134a and R-600a, and for industrial installations they synthesize R-503 and R-13, which also belong to hazard class IV.

As for fires, the degree of decomposition of freon largely depends on the phase of a particular fire (temperature at the source), and the use of brands R-23, R-318 and R-218 for extinguishing, even after 4 hours of inhalation, will not lead to death . Therefore, it is not the burning fluorocarbons that pose a danger to humans, but carbon monoxide and other products of decomposition and pyrolysis.

When and for whom can gas pose a danger?

Freon is dangerous for people in close proximity to it during large and sudden leaks from large cooling units located in unventilated or poorly ventilated areas (for example, on a submarine or in an underground bunker).

Freon poisoning is possible if safety precautions are violated at the chemical industry enterprises where it is produced, or if it is required by the technology of the production process. Intoxication is also possible in the event of an accident at the refrigeration units of refrigerated marine fishing vessels. Therefore, there is a description of what the clinical picture of freon intoxication may look like.

Complications and consequences

Freon in large quantities has a negative effect on the body - the consequences of poisoning can be irreversible. In this case, the following occurs:

liver and kidney failure;
disruption of the respiratory system;
pulmonary edema followed by coma or death;
heart pathologies.

Also, poisoning in case of ingestion of the substance leads to dysfunction of the digestive system, and in case of frostbite - to non-healing ulcers.

Therapeutic measures

In case of mild poisoning, medical intervention may not be required if first aid was provided and the symptoms of intoxication quickly passed. But you should definitely consult a doctor if:

the victim is a child, a pregnant woman or an elderly person;
freon entered the body orally;
with external damage, foci of necrosis appeared on the skin;
the person breathed fumes from burning freon gases or was in the center of the fireplace;
have a cough;
The victim complains of heart pain.

After contacting a doctor, the victim is sent to the toxicology or pulmonology department, where therapeutic measures are carried out:

Intubated.
Oxygen therapy is administered.
Stimulates the respiratory center.
Hemosorption and blood transfusion are performed.
Hemodialysis is prescribed.
Provide drug therapy.

Dangerous consequences of intoxication include heart failure, kidney failure, filling of the lungs with fluid, coma, and kidney failure.

To avoid poisoning by this toxin, you must ensure the tightness of devices that contain freon, and when working with this substance (as well as during fires), strictly follow safety precautions and wear protective equipment.

Prevention

Freons in household appliances are safe, but you need to monitor the piping system through which the refrigerant circulates. You can find out where freon is located in a refrigerator or air conditioner from the instructions. It is not recommended to repair a refrigerant leak yourself.

You should thoroughly know safety precautions when working in hazardous industries and use personal protective equipment. In high-risk areas, ventilation systems are monitored. Poisoning of persons whose professional activities involve freon is more common and is much more complex than household intoxication.

Dear readers of the 1MedHelp website, if you still have questions on this topic, we will be happy to answer them. Leave your reviews, comments, share stories of how you survived such poisoning and successfully dealt with the consequences! Your life experience may be useful to other readers.

Is freon from a refrigerator harmful to humans?

Each of us has such a household appliance as a refrigerator. And, no matter how much we would like it, it tends to break down, since it is a technique. One of the reasons for the breakdown will be a refrigerant leak, but no one can be 100% sure what harm freon leaking from a refrigerator can cause to the human body. For a refrigerator, freon is the most important component, thanks to which it carries out its cooling functions. And if you suspect that a leak has occurred, you should immediately invite a specialist.

In many cases, freons are absolutely harmless substances that pose no danger to humans. However, if possible, it is better to avoid contact with these substances and not risk your health.

Freon poisoning is not a common occurrence, since it is almost impossible to find it in the public domain. Nevertheless, under certain conditions, poisoning with this substance has a detrimental effect on the human body.

Features of the treatment of refrigerant intoxication

The basic principle of first aid in case of poisoning is to stop contact with the refrigerant. Further actions depend on the route of entry of the toxic substance into the body. Treatment is carried out at home and in a hospital.

The following categories of victims are subject to mandatory hospitalization:

exposed to freon due to a man-made disaster,
children, pregnant women,
aged people,
people after a suicide attempt,
patients with signs of severe intoxication, cardiac dysfunction, or in a coma.

First aid

It is necessary to take into account the ways in which the refrigerant enters the body. First of all, stop contact with freon.

First aid procedures for toxin contact with skin:

Rinse the affected area with plenty of water.
Apply an aseptic bandage and transport the victim to the hospital.

For inhalation injury:

Avoid further inhalation of freon vapors.
Remove the victim to fresh air.
If it is impossible to move, ensure cross ventilation of the room. Unfasten the collar buttons and open the windows. Call an ambulance.

If freon enters the oral cavity or gastrointestinal tract:

Go to the hospital or wait for an ambulance.
Rinse the stomach. Use warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate with a volume of 1 liter. The procedure is repeated until the wash water is clear. Rinse with a probe, since secondary burns of gastrointestinal tissues are possible when toxic substances pass through again. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure at home.
Rinse the intestines or induce bowel movements using saline laxatives and rectal suppositories.
Take enterosorbent - Enterosgel, Atoxil, activated or white carbon, Sorbex or any analogue.

The doctor will assess the condition of the victim, the danger to life, and decide on the advisability of hospitalization. Mild forms of freon intoxication can be treated at home.

What information is missing from the article?

List of effective medications
A detailed overview of traditional methods of treatment
Professional opinion of a specialist
Detailed review of antidotes

Hospital treatment

The method of assistance for freon poisoning is described in WHO protocols. The doctor examines the victim, assesses the degree of intoxication and the severity of the condition.

A comprehensive examination consists of the following stages:

assessment of the level of consciousness, the ability to maintain contact with medical personnel,
assessment of muscle tone, blood pressure, heart rate,
conducting an ECG,
clinical tests - blood, urine, liver tests, bilirubin, blood sugar, electrolyte composition,
assessment of diuresis status, including daily diuresis,
according to FGDS indications, X-ray examination of the chest organs and other systems.

There is no specific antidote to relieve the effects of freon intoxication. Symptomatic treatment is carried out.

Oxygenation is indicated; in the absence of spontaneous breathing, the patient is connected to a ventilator, and the bronchi are sanitized.

For arrhythmia, drug therapy and stimulation of cardiac activity are needed. When blood pressure decreases, steroid drugs and dopamine-based drugs are used.

To clean the gastrointestinal tract, rinsing is carried out using a probe. In case of excessive excitability and convulsive seizures, the use of sedatives from the group of benzodiazepines is prescribed.

To stabilize blood parameters, electrolyte composition, and accelerate the elimination of toxic substances, infusion of sodium bicarbonate and glucose solution is used. Until the patient is stabilized, blood plasma and its fractions and blood substitutes are used.

In case of cardiac and respiratory arrest, resuscitation measures are required. If renal failure develops, hemodialysis is performed.

What are the signs of a freon leak?

There are many leakage factors, some of them are caused by humans, while others are due to manufacturing defects or careless transportation of the device, or the refrigerator is simply outliving its lifespan. They are as follows:

When you were removing ice from the freezer, you accidentally pierced the wall with a sharp object, after which you heard a hissing sound from this hole - here we are talking about a direct leak of freon.
The compressor works, but will not turn off, and at the same time, insufficient cooling of the unit’s chambers is noticed - when freon leaks from the system, the refrigerator will not be able to maintain the set temperature, and it tries to compensate for this by continuous operation. If your refrigerator is two-chamber and has two compressors installed, then you can notice a decrease in temperature only in one of the chambers, and if there is only one compressor, then this will affect both chambers.
The “motor” of the refrigerator does not want to start - if all the refrigerant has evaporated from the system, the compressor will not start.
The control panel signals a malfunction - modern refrigerator models have information panels that report a malfunction in the system by flashing certain indicators. Typically, the meaning of these indicators is described in the device's operating instructions.
You can also detect a leak visually - in this case, a small build-up of ice will appear on the evaporator.

Most brands of freon have increased fluidity, so that at the slightest depressurization, the refrigerant can easily evaporate. It is often very difficult to determine the place where the passage of the substance occurs, since the gas is colorless, and due to the operation of the compressor, you may not hear hissing. In these cases, there is little you can do on your own; only specialists with special equipment will come to your aid.

See also -

The refrigerator freezes food: why does this happen?

Video: the dangers of a home refrigerator

Read further:
List of the best antibiotics for food and alcohol poisoning

Glucose for alcohol or food poisoning: adults and children

First aid and treatment of car exhaust poisoning

How to quickly induce vomiting after eating at home for weight loss

Manganese poisoning in children and adults - symptoms and diagnosis

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How to protect yourself from poisoning?

a hissing sound if you stuck a knife into the wall of the freezer while breaking ice,
continuous operation of the compressor and poor cooling at the same time,
turning off the motor,
accumulations of ice and snow, traces of corrosion,
fault signals issued by modern refrigerators.

If the work involves freon, such as the profession of a firefighter, you need to protect yourself with a gas mask, respirator, gloves and safety glasses.

When working in production, do not neglect safety rules. This is the only way you can protect your health, and sometimes your life.

Skin frostbite with freon requires the following actions:

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Physical and chemical characteristics

Freons are colorless gaseous substances or odorless liquids. Saturated aliphatic fluorinated hydrocarbons are very soluble in organic non-polar solvents and are sparingly soluble in an aqueous environment.

The properties of freons have made it possible to use such hydrocarbons in many areas, which are represented by:

efficient refrigerants inside freezers and refrigeration units;
ejector base inside gas cartridges;
perfumery and pharmaceutical medical aerosols;
fire extinguishing means;
foaming agent in the production of polyurethanes;
raw materials for the production of fluoroolefins.

The main characteristics of freons include pronounced chemical inertness, lack of combustion in air and explosion hazard even in contact with open fire, but heating fluorinated hydrocarbons to a temperature level of 250 ° C or more causes the formation of toxic products classified as heavy toxic substances. Resistance to acid and alkali is noted.

Symptoms and features of freon poisoning

Freon intoxication occurs when inhaling vapors of chlorine- or fluorine-containing hydrocarbons. During inhalation contact, molecules of a dangerous substance replace oxygen in the tissues. This is accompanied by mild intoxication and euphoria, and can cause a worsening of the condition.

Poisoning at home with freon from a refrigerator is unlikely, only when the substance is used as a drug.

nervousness, increased excitability;
decreased reaction speed;
the victim is not contactable;
lethargy;
feeling of intoxication;
headache;
dizziness;
cyanosis of the integument;
dyspnea;
noise in ears;
arrhythmia.

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With freon poisoning, symptoms develop within 2–12 hours. The speed of their manifestation is affected by the composition of the refrigerant. During the incubation period, the victim does not complain. Then the following signs appear:

burning in the nose, throat;
nausea, vomiting;
feeling of swelling in the chest, shortness of breath;
attacks of suffocation;
cyanosis of lips, nails, skin;
a sharp decrease in blood pressure to critical values;
mental disorders, motor impairment.

When high concentrations of toxic hydrocarbons are inhaled, pulmonary edema develops. This is a dangerous condition with a high mortality rate. In rare cases, symptoms reverse and within 2 days the patient’s condition returns to normal.

Hospital treatment

The help of medical workers is mandatory in the following cases:

The victim is a child, a woman during pregnancy, or an elderly person.
Freon was ingested.
The skin was frostbitten and foci of necrosis began to develop.
Inhalation of freon combustion vapors occurred or a person was directly in an emergency source of environmental pollution with decomposition products.
The signs determine the damage to nerve cells.
The appearance of severe cough and shortness of breath.
Cardiological complaints appeared.

Whether treatment during hospitalization will be effective depends directly on the degree of intoxication and the correctness of first aid.

In a hospital setting, gastric lavage will be performed using a tube. In addition, absorbent preparations, petroleum jelly and laxative solutions are used.

Infusor therapy, hemosorption, diuresis, and blood transfusion can also be used.

If the patient falls into a coma or kidney damage occurs, hemodialysis is prescribed with a solution of glucose and novocaine in the form of a dropper.

For liver damage, intravenous administration of solutions of pyridoxine, choline chloride and glucose is used.

In addition, hormone therapy is prescribed.

Then procedures are prescribed for the general strengthening of the body and the removal of freon residues and the products of its decomposition. Vitamin therapy, sedative and anti-stress medications, restrictions on physical activity and proper regular rest and sleep are used.

Signs of intoxication

The first symptoms of freon intoxication are similar to acute oxygen starvation, reminiscent of drug intoxication:

Sharp excitation of the nervous and muscular system is suddenly replaced by inhibition of reactions.
Depressed state of consciousness.
Feeling slightly intoxicated.
Impaired coordination of movements and gait in particular.
Hyperemia, cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes.
Attacks of dizziness, sharp pain spasms in the head.
Impaired functioning of the respiratory system.
The appearance of "floaters" before the eyes.
Tachycardia.
The mucous membrane of the eyes takes on a red tint.
A cough appears, a sensation of a lump in the throat.

On the first day, a state of so-called “imaginary well-being” often sets in: it seems that the body has returned to normal, and everything is fine. Typically, relief lasts from half an hour to 60 hours. The danger is that if you do not provide the necessary help now, then swelling of the lungs begins to develop.

The process is accompanied by symptoms:

A state of general weakness of the body.
Manifestations of attacks of nausea and vomiting.
Attacks of severe dizziness and sharp pain in the temples.
The appearance of foamy discharge when coughing.
Feelings of intense chills.
Tremor of the limbs.
The appearance of seizures and convulsions.
The appearance of profuse lacrimation.
Arrhythmia followed by tachycardia.
Auditory hallucinations.
Presyncope with periodic loss of consciousness.

The above symptoms can lead to death due to the development of paralysis of the respiratory organs.

When receiving an excess dosage of poison, the stage of imaginary well-being does not occur. The person suffers instant death.

When freon enters the body, adverse reactions develop:

Increased salivation and watery eyes.
Foaming may occur at the mouth.
A burn occurs to the mucous membrane of internal organs.
Attacks of nausea and vomiting appear.
Severe stomach upset begins, and blood impurities are noticeable in the stool.
Difficulty urinating.
The urine will change color to dark brown.
Arterial hypertension appears.

Myths about freons. Is gas from an air conditioner dangerous?

Freon is a substance that has become indispensable in our technological age: refrigerators and air conditioners, various aerosols and fire extinguishing agents, where freons are the main component.
Is freon dangerous to health? Refrigerators and air conditioners cool the environment (or the interior of the refrigerator) due to a special substance - a refrigerant, which circulates in its depths, passing from a liquid to a gaseous state, and vice versa. During these transformations, the refrigerant takes heat from the interior of the refrigerator and releases it into the environment. Such a refrigerant is freon (freon). The first representative of freons (chlorofluorocarbons) was synthesized in 1928 by American employee Thomas Midgley Jr. And since 1931, chlorofluorocarbons have replaced harmful ammonia in refrigeration units. Later, the list of freons increased to more than 40 compounds, and they began to be designated using the Latin R (from the word Refrigerant - cooler) and a code of numbers. The most valuable property of freons is the ability to absorb heat when evaporating. In a refrigerator or air conditioner, the resulting gas is sent to the condenser, where it again becomes a liquid, etc. Freons themselves are similar in their chemical structure to methane and ethane, but the hydrogen atoms in these substances are replaced by chlorine and fluorine. In the modern world, freons are used as refrigerants in household appliances (refrigerators, air conditioners), in medicine and perfumery (aerosols and sprays), and also as fire extinguishing agents. However, in healthcare, freons are also fading into the background - modern inhalers use other substances. When heated, freons form the chemical agent phosgene Phosgene is an infamous chemical agent that was first used in World War I and was responsible for thousands of soldier deaths. The only salvation from phosgene was a gas mask. But a refrigerator standing next to the stove cannot be a source of phosgene for a number of reasons. A little history. According to environmentalists, the first freons had a detrimental effect on the planet’s ozone layer. True, now the theory about the reduction of the ozone layer under the influence of freons is not confirmed, but it played its role. In 1987, in Montreal, in accordance with the UN Program, it was decided to begin reducing the use of freons. In this regard, the refrigerants that were used in old refrigerators - R-12 and R-22 freons - are a thing of the past, and they are replaced by safer R-410A and R-407C. By the way, this led to an increase in the cost of household appliances - due to the features of the new freons.

Modern freons, which are used as refrigerants, are rather inert substances: they do not burn or explode even when exposed to an open flame.

“Old” freons, or more precisely, R-22, contained chlorine and could pose a danger to humans at temperatures above 250 ° C, since phosgene was formed. Modern freons, which have been used in refrigerators since 1992, do not contain chlorine, so they are safe even at this temperature.

Conclusions: Even heating a modern refrigerator to 250°C will not produce phosgene.

Inhalation of freons leads to poisoning.

Indeed, freon R-22, which was previously used as a refrigerant in household appliances, when inhaled in sufficient concentration, has a negative effect on the central nervous system: it leads to confusion, drowsiness, as well as attacks of weakness, followed by outbreaks of excitement - poisoning is obvious. There is also a study according to which freons increase the risk of developing arrhythmias, hypertension and coronary artery disease - in people who are constantly in contact with them, for example, repairing refrigerators. But, firstly, this does not apply to the users of refrigerators themselves, and, secondly, the study dealt with “old” freons - R-12 and R-22.

Where and how can you get poisoned?

Prolonged stay in a room with excess gas concentration leads to intoxication. Gas leakage is dangerous because it does not have a characteristic odor or color. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the poisoning product. Freon poisoning occurs at 30% of the total volume of oxygen in a closed space.

A leak may occur if:

the operation of the refrigeration unit is disrupted, resulting in a leak;
cylinders containing freon caught fire;
the gas has exploded or the freon is burning;
liquid form of freon has penetrated;
there was an attempt to deliberately poison oneself or chronic substance abuse.

Poisoning with purified freon occurs rarely. More often, intoxication is caused by untreated gas with impurities.