Hydrofluoric acid, 47-51%

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance: fuming liquid. Danger! May be fatal if inhaled, absorbed through the skin or swallowed. Absorbed fluoride can cause metabolic imbalances with irregular heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and seizures. Long- term exposure may cause bone and joint changes. Corrosive to metal. Will attack glass and any silicon-containing material. Both liquid and vapor can cause severe burns to all parts of the body. Specialized medical treatment is required for any exposure to HF. Before using this product, make sure that personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used and operating, and also that first aid treatments and procedures are available and understood. Target Organs: Lungs, teeth, eyes, skin, bone, mucous membranes.

Potential health effects

Eye: Contact with liquid or vapor causes severe burns and possible irreversible eye damage. Solutions as dilute as 2% or lower may cause burns. Skin: May be fatal if absorbed through the skin. Causes severe burns with delayed tissue destruction. Substance is rapidly absorbed through the skin. Penetration may continue for several days. Causes severe tissue necrosis and bone destruction. Both liquid and vapor can cause severe burns, which may not be immediately painful or visible. Solutions as dilute as 2% or lower may cause burns. Systemic fluoride toxicity from exposure to hydrofluoric acid may result in severe hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, cardiac dysrhythmias, and death. Burns caused by weak hydrofluoric acid may go unnoticed for several hours. Therefore, first aid procedures must be followed if any contact is suspected. Ingestion: Causes severe digestive tract burns with abdominal pain, vomiting, and possible death. Human fatalities have been reported from acute poisoning. Systemic fluoride toxicity from exposure to hydrofluoric acid may result in severe hypocalcemia (depletion of calcium in the blood), hypomagnesemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, cardiac dysrhythmias, and death. Inhalation: May be fatal if inhaled. May cause severe irritation of the upper respiratory tract with pain, burns, and inflammation. May cause pulmonary edema and severe respiratory disturbances. Depletes calcium levels in the body which can lead to hypocalcemia and death. Concentrations of hydrofluoric acid above 40% fume in air. Chronic: Chronic inhalation and ingestion may cause chronic fluoride poisoning (fluorosis) characterized by weight loss, weakness, anemia, brittle bones, and stiff joints. Repeated inhalation may cause chronic bronchitis. Chronic exposure to fluoride compounds may cause systemic toxicity. Skeletal effects may include bone brittleness, joint stiffness, teeth discoloration, tendon calcification, and osterosclerosis. Chronic ingestion or inhalation may cause weight loss, malaise, anemia, leukopenia (reduction in the number of white blood cells in the blood), discoloration of the teeth and osteosclerosis (the hardening or abnormal density of bone). Repeated inhalation may cause osteofluorosis and permanent respiratory damage.