A teen girl died from sniffing Pam, a spray vegetable coating used in cooking, consisting of 98 percent Freon and 2 percent vegetable oil. North Dakota State Toxicology Lab scientists Dr. N.G. Raugh and Dr. Alphonse Bocklus explain what Freon is and the dangers involved in sniffing it to get high. Freon, a brand name now used generically for a fluorocarbon, is found in spray product propellants in various concentrations.
DENNIS HAMILTON: Carolyn Vipond lived until she was 15 years old. She died recently in Fargo as the result of an experiment, an attempt to get high. Her high and resulting death were caused by sniffing PAM, a vegetable coating used on cooking utensils.
Death was caused by freon, the propellant used to project the vegetable oil. I talked with Dr. Rao and Dr. Alphonse Poklis at the North Dakota toxicology labs at North Dakota State University about Carolyn's death and asked Dr. Rao to explain freon.
DR. RAO: Freon, it is a fluorocarbon. There are a number of fluorocarbons that are called freon 11, freon 12, and there are some other numbers also. And actually, it is one of the trade names of one company, but the other companies also make similar fluorocarbons. But more or less, freon has become such a common word. We use it rather freely. Actually, we should be referring these as fluorocarbons rather than as any of with freon or any other name like that.
DENNIS HAMILTON: We use these types of compounds in our everyday lives. Are they dangerous to us as we use them in our homes?
DR. RAO: They are not all dangerous when used for the intended purpose. As such, there is nothing that's damaging in them that could cause any of the serious conditions toxic effects.
DENNIS HAMILTON: For a youngster who is thinking about using PAM to get a high, first of all, can you get high from freon? And second of all, what are the dangers?
DR. ALPHONSE POKLIS: Well, you can get a high from freon if you will. Usually, it's sniffed in a plastic bag, put over the nose. Primary danger from sniffing them is cardiac sensitization from freon, which leads to ventricular fibrillation in a very rapid death.
DENNIS HAMILTON: Are there patterns? Are there people who are more susceptible to death from using these compounds, or does it just depend on the intake?
DR. ALPHONSE POKLIS: Well, actually, the use of them, really, there seems to be a Russian roulette factor. First of all, there has been no relationship shown between any incident pathology, any illness a person might have and then subsequent death from freons. Normal, healthy people can die from inhaling freons.
And second, there isn't any relationship between the amount of time that a person sniffs it or how often he sniffed it. The first time user can die as readily as, or I should say that somebody that's used it a number of times over a period of time is just as susceptible as somebody that tries it the first time.
DENNIS HAMILTON: These compounds, like PAM, which is 98% freon, as I understand, and about 2% vegetable oil, are available on our grocery store shelves because somebody has created a product that they're trying also to create a demand for. Does the state toxicology lab have any feeling on making these types of compounds available in that way in our grocery stores?
DR. RAO: Actually, they are not intended for any of the purposes they have been few times abused for. As such, I don't think they should be restricted. They are in grocery. A number of things are available, which could be dangerous when used inappropriately. And probably the same limitation should hold for freon products or any of the other products also that contain similar ingredients.
DENNIS HAMILTON: So they're not dangerous so long as we use them as directed?
DR. RAO: No, as long as they are used for intended purposes, they are not at all dangerous. Only with some of the hairsprays and these things, I don't think I could put any percentage basis. One in a million, sometimes, it's possible, sensitive and could give some of the ill effects. But this is one in a million. But even if they are, probably, it is really hard to decide whether somebody has died. Actually, they do not produce any kind of tissue changes in order to recognize.
DENNIS HAMILTON: This freon, the major propellant that we're using now for deodorants and those types of products, presently a number of furniture polishers, usually 20% to 30% in things like insect repellents and spray cans, furniture polishers.
Generally, the concentration, like in a hair spray or a deodorant, would be between 40% and 50% of freons, and PAM is the only product that contains, to my knowledge, it contains such an overwhelming concentration of freons, 98% by weight.
That was Dr. NG Rao and Dr. Alphonse Poklis at the North Dakota State toxicology labs at North Dakota State University, talking about freon, a fluorocarbon and a byproduct of our convenience-oriented world. In one way, it makes life a little easier. But for 15-year-old Carol Vipond, it ended life. I'm Dennis Hamilton in Fargo.
Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
Views and opinions expressed in the content do not represent the opinions of APMG. APMG is not responsible for objectionable content and language represented on the site. Please use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report a piece of content. Thank you.
Transcriptions provided are machine generated, and while APMG makes the best effort for accuracy, mistakes will happen. Please excuse these errors and use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report an error. Thank you.