Health Effects of Dermal/Ocular Exposure To HF Case reports of dermal/ocular exposure to HF (continued) HF Conditions of exposure Area of body Treatment Effect Reference concentration Dermal (cont.): 4.2% HF Employee of used car lot Hands. Calcium gluconate gel not Chemical burns to hands. No further WorkSafe 7% H2SO4 cleaned car wheels for 6 h available at workplace. No details provided. Western Australia, without PPE. further details of treatment. 4% HF Man (26 y) exposed while Right hand, Initially treated with analgesic Used solution for 2 h before tingling Isbister, 2000. 20% H2SO4 using cleaning solution. primarily fingers. at clinic and at hospital 5 h occurred, progressed to severe pain with intravenous and topical over 1 h. Treatment did not resolve pain calcium gluconate, and later and intramuscular analgesic needed for 72 Bier block. Fingernails h. Discharged from hospital after 5 days. removed. 10% ammonium Exposed when used solution Fingers. Treatment with diuretics and Fingers began to tingle 2 h after exposure Pedersen, 1980. bifluoride and to clean aluminium window prednisone tablets commenced started. They became painful that evening, 27.5% frames for 4-5 h without 24 h after exposure. with swelling during the night. Gross phosphoric acid gloves. oedema and reduced sensation of the (H3PO4) fingers, which disappeared within 4 d, were noted after 24 h, but no skin lesions. Some nails were lost after 4-6 weeks, but re-grew normally. 2% 63-year old man used metal Hands. Treatment probably sought One hour after exposure, patient developed Smith, 1992. cleaner with a cloth, and approx. 20 h exposure, and a burning sensation in his palms, and without gloves. involved application of calcium associated deep bone pain, which gluconate gel dressings every 2 intensified over the next 20 h. Treatment h. resolved symptoms rapidly.
Health Effects of Dermal/Ocular Exposure To HF Case reports of dermal/ocular exposure to HF (continued) HF concentration Conditions of exposure Area of body Treatment Effect Reference Dermal (cont.): 4.2% HF 7% H2SO4 Employee of used car lot cleaned car wheels for 6 h without PPE. Hands. Calcium gluconate gel not available at workplace. No further details of treatment. Chemical burns to hands. No further details provided. WorkSafe Western Australia, 4% HF 20% H2SO4 Man (26 y) exposed while using cleaning solution. Right hand, primarily fingers. Initially treated with analgesic at clinic and at hospital 5 h with intravenous and topical calcium gluconate, and later Bier block. Fingernails removed. Used solution for 2 h before tingling occurred, progressed to severe pain over 1 h. Treatment did not resolve pain and intramuscular analgesic needed for 72 h. Discharged from hospital after 5 days. Isbister, 2000. 10% ammonium bifluoride and 27.5% phosphoric acid (H3PO4) Exposed when used solution to clean aluminium window frames for 4-5 h without gloves. Fingers. Treatment with diuretics and prednisone tablets commenced 24 h after exposure. Fingers began to tingle 2 h after exposure started. They became painful that evening, with swelling during the night. Gross oedema and reduced sensation of the fingers, which disappeared within 4 d, were noted after 24 h, but no skin lesions. Some nails were lost after 4-6 weeks, but re-grew normally. Pedersen, 1980. 2% 63-year old man used metal cleaner with a cloth, and without gloves. Hands. Treatment probably sought approx. 20 h exposure, and involved application of calcium gluconate gel dressings every 2 h. One hour after exposure, patient developed a burning sensation in his palms, and associated deep bone pain, which intensified over the next 20 h. Treatment resolved symptoms rapidly. Smith, 1992.
PEC19-Hydrofluoric-acid-HF.docx