Inhalation of Degraded Sulphur Hexafluoride Resulting in Pulmonary Oedema

Abstract

This article describes an asphyxiation incident in which two men were rapidly rendered unconscious in an atmosphere containing sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). One man developed frank pulmonary oedema most likely due to the effects of the breakdown products of SF6 which have been shown to produce severe lung damage at the alveolar level. We believe this is the first reported case of ‘degraded SF6’ toxicity in man.