Vol. 26, pg. 3692

Dec 13, 1948

Fluorine gases in atmosphere as industrial waste blamed for death and chronic poisoning of Donora and Webster, Pa., inhabitants

Circumstantial and actual proof has been found of acute fluorine poisoning by the smog in the Monongahela River Valley to persons who already had chronic fluorine intoxication, states the official report of investigations of the cause of the deaths of 17 people in Donora, Pa., and of 3 in Webster during the last weekend in October. Most of the well-known symptoms of acute fluorine poisoning were found by members of the medical profession who examined victims of the smog, Philip Sadtler, consultant, discovered.

The fog bank across the tops of the valley walls surrounding the towns for four days had permitted little movement of air and allowed the gaseous waste products of several plants and the railroads to accumulate. Besides being saturated with soot, the fog blanket also contained sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrofluoric acid. It has not yet been shown that the first three were present in quantities suffficient to kill. Numerous factors, however, indicated fluorine poisoning, Mr. Sadtler states. Fluorine-containing substances are used in several plants in the vicinity. Analysis of blood of deceased and hospitalized victims showed 12 to 25 times the normal quantity of fluorine. Corn crops, very sensitive to fluorine, were severely damaged and all of the vegetation north of the town were killed. One of the primary symptoms of acute fluorine poisoning in human beings, dyspnea (distressed breathing similar to attacks of asthma) has been found in hundreds of cases. Although those who were affected were of all ages, those who died had displayed symptoms similar to those of chronic fluorine poisoning much earlier. Conspicuous evidence of such chronic poisoning in young persons in the vicinity is the high incidence of mottled tooth enamel and dental caries. Moreover, many effects of secondary fluorine poisoning are to be seen in herbivorous animals in the region. Lastly, inanimate objects show evidence of attack by acid gases.

Recommendations for improvements call for completion of the study in order to single out the plants, materials, and processes causing the trouble. Changes should be made in suspect processes to prevent emission of fluorine-containing fumes, and improvements in combustion are needed. Cottrell precipitators to collect dust and scrubbers to absorb the acid gases are also essential, Mr. Sadtler concludes.

For more information on the Donora fogs:

* The Donora Death Fog: A Secret History of America's Worst Air Pollution Disaster Chris Bryson, Earth Island Journal, 1998

Of further interest:

* The Fog Disaster in the Meuse Valley, 1930: A Fluorine Intoxication Kaj Roholm, Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, Vol. 19, No. 3, 1937