Intoxication professionnelle accidentelle collective au gaz Fréon 22 : à propos de 100 cas.

Résumé

We report 100 cases of chlorodifluoromethane (Freon-22) accidental occupational intoxication that occurred on November 2007 while maintaining air conditioning system. A total of 180 workers have been exposed to Freon-22 gas and only 100 cases have developed symptoms for which they have been transferred to the Centre d’Assistance Médicale Urgente (CAMU) in Tunis. Irritation symptoms have been reported by 37 patients, neurological symptoms including dizziness and headaches by 22 patients, and dyspnoea by 17 patients. Hepatic abnormal biology has been observed for 12 cases. There were no fatalities. These symptoms have disappeared within few (4 to 7) days for all patients. Although Freon-22 has been considered to be a chlorofluorocarbon of relatively low toxicity, this accident suggests that potentially significant toxic effects may occur following large exposures. Adequate information about risks should be given to the workforce while maintaining systems using this type of gas.