OCCUPATIONAL PHOSGENE POISONING - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Phosgene is a highly toxic gas to which some workers may be occupation ally exposed. This case report demonstrates the possibility of refrige ration workers suffering phosgene poisoning after heating certain chlo rinated fluorocarbons ('freons'). The need to suspect phosgene exposur e and observe such patients is emphasized, especially in view of the d elay in clinical deterioration observed in some patients who subsequen tly develop adult respiratory distress syndrome.