Systemic fluoride poisoning and death from inhalational exposure to sulfuryl fluoride.

We report a poisoning death from inhalational exposure to the gas fumigants chloropicrin and sulfuryl fluoride. The patient displayed both local irritant effects of chloropicrin and systemic effects of sulfuryl fluoride. The clinical course, marked by initial hypocalcemia, delayed onset of ventricular dysrhythmias, and death, is consistent with fluoride being the predominant mechanism of toxicity with sulfuryl fluoride.