Atrial fibrillation and sudden death related to occupational solvent exposure.

Two cases of atrial fibrillation and one case of sudden death occurred in workers exposed to trifluorotrichloroethane (CFC 113) as a solvent/degreasing agent. This agent and related halogenated hydrocarbons are widely used in industry as solvents and degreasing agents, and have been previously linked to ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac sudden death when inhaled in excessive concentrations. We suggest that occupational overexposure to halogenated hydrocarbons should be considered a potential precipitant for atrial as well as ventricular arrhythmias.