Palpitation Rates Associated with Fluorocarbon Exposure in a Hospital Setting

THE use of aerosols containing fluorocarbons has been implicated as being responsible for deaths in specific environmental exposures. Excess mortality in asthmatic children and young adults in England and Wales was associated with the use of fluorocarbon-containing aerosols of isoproterenol.1 The asthma mortality, which generally was sudden and unexpected, was believed to be the result either of excess sympathomimetic stimulation in association with hypoxemia or of the fluorocarbon propellant used as the aerosol.2 3 4 Since 1967, deaths from what has been termed "aerosol sniffing" have occurred in increasing numbers in this country.5 , 6 Numerous aerosol products containing fluorocarbons as propellants, including frying-pan . . .