(L.A.) Raul Ortega, 18, Died at a Residence

Case Number: 2010-06174

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of an 18-year-old Hispanic male that occurred at his residence.

The coroner’s office identified the teen as Raul Ortega.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death A: Inhalant Abuse (Sudden Sniffing Death)

Cause of Death B: Inhaling Huffing Glade Air Freshner

RIP RAUL ORTEGA (July 20, 1992 – September 18, 2010)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Saturday at 10:25 p.m.

“Huffing” is the commonly used term for the intentional inhalation of chemical vapors from household products, such as aerosol air fresheners (like Glade), to achieve a psychoactive or intoxicating effect.

Fatalities from inhaling Glade air freshener or similar aerosol products are rare but do occur, primarily through a phenomenon known as “sudden sniffing death syndrome,” which can cause fatal heart arrhythmias even after a single exposure. There are documented cases, including a 16-year-old who died after inhaling fumes from an aerosol air freshener, and a case report of a young male who suffered ventricular fibrillation (a potentially fatal heart rhythm) after inhaling Glade Air Freshener but survived.

Intentional inhalation of hydrocarbons found in products like Glade air freshener can sometimes be fatal due to effects on the heart and lungs.

Aerosol inhalant abuse among adolescents is a known but uncommon cause of sudden death, and many cases likely go unreported or are lumped in with general inhalant fatalities.