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.): 15% HF Cleaned aluminium and Fingers and both Exact details not given. It is Stinging sensation at end of fingers was Queensland. 7.5% H2SO4 stainless steel strips on van hands. likely that hands were washed noticed after 1½ h and progressed to Department of without gloves for 1½ h, with water at time injury feeling that hands were on fire. Skin Employment, and for a further ½ h with noticed, and that hospital discoloured to reddish-brown. Treatment Training and food grade gloves. treatment involved calcium sought at hospital and was required every 2 Industrial gluconate. d for 3 months. Worker had difficulty Relations 1999. carrying out normal occupation as bricklayer. 15% Technician cleaning Fingers and hand. Only normal washing carried Burning sensation and whitening of skin Stencil & Tobin, oxidation from silver out at completion of task. Burn occurred 8 h exposure. Pain increased 1987. soldering on a copper not detected until 8 h after task over the next day. Three months after component was exposed completed. Treatment exposure, hand was still swollen and had through pinhole in rubber commenced 24 h after reduced use and dexterity of fingers. glove. Cotton liners exposure, and calcium Seven months after exposure, dexterity had underneath held the solution gluconate later injected into returned but some swelling remained. in contact with skin. burned area. Minor scarring remained. Solution used for 1 h. 12% 27-year old male worked Fingers and hands. Treatment was sought on 3 Initial symptom was pain only, in both Jordan, 1982 with HF for several hours occasions, and fingernails were hands but concentrated in fingertips. without gloves removed on third visit. Approx 14 h after exposure, the hands Magnesium compound soaks were painful, edematous and erythematous. and dressings were continued Symptoms resolved by 2 weeks after for 3 d. exposure.
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.): 15% HF 7.5% H2SO4 Cleaned aluminium and stainless steel strips on van without gloves for 1½ h, and for a further ½ h with food grade gloves. Fingers and both hands. Exact details not given. It is likely that hands were washed with water at time injury noticed, and that hospital treatment involved calcium gluconate. Stinging sensation at end of fingers was noticed after 1½ h and progressed to feeling that hands were on fire. Skin discoloured to reddish-brown. Treatment sought at hospital and was required every 2 d for 3 months. Worker had difficulty carrying out normal occupation as bricklayer. Queensland. Department of Employment, Training and Industrial Relations 1999. 15% Technician cleaning oxidation from silver soldering on a copper component was exposed through pinhole in rubber glove. Cotton liners underneath held the solution in contact with skin. Solution used for 1 h. Fingers and hand. Only normal washing carried out at completion of task. Burn not detected until 8 h after task completed. Treatment commenced 24 h after exposure, and calcium gluconate later injected into burned area. Burning sensation and whitening of skin occurred 8 h exposure. Pain increased over the next day. Three months after exposure, hand was still swollen and had reduced use and dexterity of fingers. Seven months after exposure, dexterity had returned but some swelling remained. Minor scarring remained. Stencil & Tobin, 1987. 12% 27-year old male worked with HF for several hours without gloves Fingers and hands. Treatment was sought on 3 occasions, and fingernails were removed on third visit. Magnesium compound soaks and dressings were continued for 3 d. Initial symptom was pain only, in both hands but concentrated in fingertips. Approx 14 h after exposure, the hands were painful, edematous and erythematous. Symptoms resolved by 2 weeks after exposure. Jordan, 1982
PEC19-Hydrofluoric-acid-HF.docx