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Return to Carbon
tetrafluoride Index Page
Activity: Former
US EPA List 3 Inert (Propellant, Halogenated organic)
Structure:
Adverse Effects:
CNS
Heart
Lung
Tremors
Environmental
Excerpt
from abstract:
Light perfluorocarbons, such as carbon tetrafluoride, are
produced or emitted from a variety of processes, including
manufacture of aluminum and processing of semiconductor
devices. At the same time, the long atmospheric lifetime
and high global warming potential of such compounds makes
them an environmental concern.
Ref: Chen DT et al. (1998).
A carbon Arc process for treatment of CF4 emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY; 32 (20). 3237-3240.
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CNS, Heart,
Lung
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on for all fluorinated pesticides)
-- TARGET
ORGANS: Respiratory system, cardio-vascular system, central nervous
system.
-- ACUTE: The most significant hazard associated with Tetrafluoromethane
[carbon tetrafluoride] is inhalation of high concentrations of
Tetrafluoromethane. Such overexposure can cause oxygen deficiency.
Symptoms of such exposures include respiratory difficulty, ringing
in ears, headaches, dizziness, indigestion, nausea, and possible
death...
-- INHALATION: Exposures to high concentrations of this gas may
cause sensitization of the heart
to adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. Effects of such overexposure
can include light-headedness, giddiness, shortness of breath and
in extreme cases, irregular heartbeats, cardiac arrest, and death.
High concentrations of this gas can cause an oxygen-deficient
environment. Individuals breathing such an atmosphere may experience
symptoms which include headaches, ringing in ears, dizziness,
drowsiness, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, and depression
of all the senses. The skin of a victim of overexposure may have
a blue color. Under some circumstances of overexposure, death
may occur. The effects associated with various levels of oxygen
are as follows:
CONCENTRATION SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE
12-16% Oxygen: Breathing and pulse rate increased, muscular coordination
slightly disturbed.
10-14% Oxygen: Emotional upset, abnormal fatigue, disturbed respiration.
6-10% Oxygen: Nausea and vomiting, collapse or loss of consciousness.
Below 6%: Convulsive movements, possible respiratory collapse,
and death.
Ref: Material Safety Data Sheet: TETRAFLUOROMETHANE
- CF4 MSDS (Document # 001051). Airgas.
http://www.airgas.com/documents/pdf/1051.pdf
HUMAN HEALTH
EFFECTS.
-- Overexposure by
inhalation may include temporary central nervous system
depression with such effects as dizziness,
headache, confusion, incoordination, and loss of consciousness;
or with gross overexposure (>20%), temporary alteration of the
heart's electrical activity with irregular pulse, palpitations
or inadequate circulation. Eye or skin contact with the liquid
may cause frostbite.
-- Individuals
with preexisting diseases of the central nervous or cardiovascular
systems may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive
exposures.
Ref:
Undated
DuPont's Material Safety Data Sheet.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/carbon.tetrafluoride.MSDS.pdf
Tremors
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on for all fluorinated pesticides)
EARLY ANIMAL WORK...INDICATED
THAT HIGH VAPOR CONCN (EG, 20%) MAY CAUSE CONFUSION, PULMONARY
IRRITATION, TREMORS &
RARELY COMA, BUT...EFFECTS...GENERALLY TRANSIENT & WITHOUT LATE
SEQUELAE. /FLUOROCARBON REFRIGERANTS & PROPELLANTS/ [Gosselin,
R.E., H.C. Hodge, R.P. Smith, and M.N. Gleason. Clinical Toxicology
of Commercial Products. 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins,
1976.,p. II-109]
Ref: TOXNET profile from Hazardous Substances
Data Base for TETRAFLUOROMETHANE (Carbon Tetrafluoride)
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Carbon.Tetrafluoride.TOXNET.htm
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Environmental (click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
Carbon
tetrafluoride (CF4) and carbon hexafluoride (C2F6)
are emitted as by-products of the primary aluminum production
process. Both are potent greenhouse gases, with global warming
potentials of approximately 6,500 and 9,200 times that of
CO2, respectively, and lifetimes
that exceed 10,000 years.
Ref:
Mitigating Climate Change. US Department of State. Undated.
http://www.state.gov/www/global/oes/97climate_report/part4b.html
Note
from FAN. Another major source of Carbon tetrafluoride is
from the processing of semiconductor devices- EC
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