Health effects among refrigeration repair workers exposed to fluorocarbons.

Refrigeration repair workers may be intermittently exposed to fluorocarbons and their thermal decomposition products. An index case of peripheral neuropathy (distal axonopathy) in a commercial refrigeration repairman prompted an epidemiologic investigation of the health of refrigeration repair works. No additional cases of peripheral neuropathy were identified among the 27 refrigeration repair workers studied. A reference group of 14 non-refrigeration repair workers was also studied. No differences were noted between groups for the ulnar (motor and sensory), median (motor and sensory), peroneal, sural, or tribial nerve conduction velocities. Refrigeration repair workers reported palpitation and light-headiness significantly more often than did workers in the reference group. No clinical neurologic or electroneurophysiolocig abnormalities were detected among eight refrigeration repair workers followed for a three-year period during continuous employment.