How does freon affect the body

When trying to figure out how much Freon you have been exposed to, there are several things to keep in mind. First, there is a finite amount of Freon contained in the refrigeration system, so you can't be exposed to any more than what is actually in the system. Second, Freon is about 4 times heavier than air, so it is going to sink to the floor initially, though it is highly volatile and will disperse rapidly.

What this means is that the closer to the floor that you are, the more Freon you are likely to breathe in. This is a concern especially for children and pets, children because they are smaller and thus require smaller doses for acute effects to occur, and pets, especially dogs, because they are more sensitive to the heart sensitizing effects of Freon than humans are.

Seek emergency medical care right away. Move the person to fresh air. Be careful to avoid being overcome with the fumes while helping someone else. Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning.

They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number.

You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. An appliance made after is unlikely to contain Freon, and one made after must not contain Freon by law.

The only time Freon might end up outside your appliance is when a leak occurs due to accidental damage or vandalism. These include shortness of breath, dizziness, loss of coordination, and poor concentration.

Skin rashes are another symptom, particularly for those with sensitive skin. Direct skin contact can cause a chemical burn or frostbite. There are no known long-term health effects. Symptoms can vary depending on the extent of the Freon exposure, but even a small amount of exposure can cause serious symptoms in humans. Mild symptoms of Freon exposure include excitability, dizziness, changes in heart rate and headaches.

The lining of the throat or nose may become irritated, and the throat may swell. Pain in any exposed mucous membranes, such as the mouth, throat or eyes, is common after exposure.