Fluoride Exposure: Industrial Activity. Fluoride Action Network Pesticide Project.

FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK PESTICIDE PROJECT

Return to Fluoride Exposure Tables:
1. FETAL AND INFANT EXPOSURE: 0–6 MONTHS
2. FOOD Exposure
2.1. Food Exposure via Pesticide: CRYOLITE
2.2. Food Exposure via Pesticidal Fumigant: SULFURYL FLUORIDE
2.3. Food Exposure via ANTIMICROBIAL FORMULATIONS - FOOD CONTACT SURFACE SANITIZING SOLUTIONS
2.4. Food Exposure via Pesticides: EPA "INERTS"
2.5. Food Exposure via Pesticides: NEW PROPOSAL FOR TOLERANCE EXEMPTIONS
3. Exposure via Dental and Pharmaceuticals
5. Fluoride Exposure: Various Other Sources

DRAFT Copy

Note: Two Tables are listed below:
4. Exposure from INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
4.1. U.S. Manufacturers of Hydrogen Fluoride, Fluorine, Sodium Fluoride, Fluosilicic Acid, and Sodium Silicofluoride

• "Populations living near industrial sources of hydrogen fluoride, including coal burning facilities, may be exposed to higher levels of hydrogen fluoride in the air. Additionally, vegetables and fruits grown near these sources may contain higher levels of fluoride, particularly from fluoride-containing dust settling on the plants." (page 15, Ref. 1)

TABLE 4.
Exposure to Fluoride from INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY

Hydrogen fluoride is the most important compound of fluorine. Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production of most fluorine-containing chemicals. [Anhydrous = without water] (Ref. 1, page 199)

Industrial Activity
% Used Details Reference

Hydrogen fluoride Aluminum manufacturing 6 %
- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used

- Generally, the aluminum industry consumes 10–40 kg of fluoride per metric ton of aluminum produced. The AlF3 used in aluminum reduction cells may be
produced directly from acid-grade fluorspar or byproduct fluorosilicic acid, rather than from hydrogen fluoride.
1 (page 199)

Hydrogen fluoride Brick Works 1

Hydrogen fluoride Chemical derivatives 18 % 1

Hydrogen fluoride Coal plants 1
(page 199)

Hydrogen fluoride
Electronic Industry

Electrical and electronic equipment
- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production

- Hydrogen fluoride may be used to
-- etch glass in TV picture tubes
-- to clean silicon chips 1 (page 199)

Hydrogen fluoride
Fluorescent light bulbs
- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production 1 (page 199)

Hydrogen fluoride
Glass etching
- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used 1

Hydrogen fluoride
Exotic metal extraction
- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used

Hydrogen fluoride High octane gasoline
(petroleum
alkylation catalysts) 4 % - Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used as a catalyst in the petroleum alkylation, a process that increases the octane rating of petroleum. 1 (page 199)

Hydrogen fluoride Inorganic fluorides Fluorine gas is used captively for the production of various inorganic fluorides.

Hydrogen fluoride
Plastics
Refrigerants

Fluorocarbon chemicals, including
hydrofluorocarbons,
hydro-fluorochlorocarbons,
fluoropolymers
60%
- The most important use of hydrogen fluoride is in the production of these chemicals; 60% of production of HF is used for this purpose.

- Demand for hydrogen fluoride for fluorocarbons, broadly used as refrigerants, is increasing as a nonchlorinated alternative to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. (Production of fluorocarbons uses more hydrogen fluoride than production of chlorofluorocarbons.)
1 (page 199)

Hydrogen fluoride
Metal coatings
- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used 1

Hydrogen fluoride
Pharmaceuticals
- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production 1

Hydrogen fluoride Phosphate Fertilizer plants 1

Hydrogen fluoride
Plastics Industry
- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production 1

Hydrogen fluoride
Quartz purification
- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used

Hydrogen fluoride
Refrigerants

- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production

- Demand for hydrogen fluoride for fluorocarbons, broadly used as refrigerants, is increasing as a nonchlorinated alternative to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons.

- Production of fluorocarbons uses more hydrogen fluoride than production of chlorofluorocarbons.

Hydrogen fluoride
Stainless steel pickling
5 % Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used 1

Hydrogen fluoride

Fluorine gas
Uranium chemicals production
3 % of Hydrogen Fluoride

70–80% of fluorine production.

In uranium chemicals production, hydrogen fluoride is used to convert uranium oxide (yellow cake, U3O8) to UF4 before further fluorination to UF6.

Fluorine gas is used captively for the production of various inorganic fluorides. The preparation of fluorides of an element in its highest oxidation state makes use of fluorine’s oxidizing and fluorinating
ability. The most important product is uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which is used in the gaseous diffusion process for producing enriched uranium-235 for the nuclear industry. This use consumes 70–80% of fluorine production.

Wood preservatives

Hydrogen fluoride Tile Works 1

Reference 1. September 2003 (published March 2004). TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR
FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp11.pdf

Table 4.1. U.S. Manufacturers of Hydrogen Fluoride, Fluorine, Sodium Fluoride,
Fluosilicic Acid, and Sodium Silicofluoride a

Ref: page 195

Company Location

Hydrogen Fluoride b,c Dupont La Porte, Texas

Honeywell d Geismar, Louisiana

Fluorine Honeywell d Metropolis, Illinois

Sodium fluoride   Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc. Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Ozark Fluorine Specialties, Inc. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Solvay Fluorides, Inc. Alorton, Illinois

Sodium silicofluoride   IMC Phosphates Company,
IMC-Agrico Phosphates Faustina, Louisiana

Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation Mulberry, Florida

Solvay Fluorides, Inc. Alorton, Illinois

Fluosilicic acid       Cargill Fertilizer, Inc. Riverview, Florida

Farmland Hydro, L.P. Bartow, Florida

IMC Phosphates Company,
IMC-Agrico Phosphates Faustina, Louisiana;
Nichols, Florida;
South Pierce, Florida;
Uncle Sam, Louisiana

PCS Phosphate Co. Inc.
Aurora, North Carolina

Royster-Clark Inc.
Americus, Georgia;
Chesapeake, Virginia;
Florence, Alabama;
Hartsville, South Carolina

Solvay Fluorides, Inc.
Alorton, Illinois

U.S. Agri-Chemicals Corporation Fort Meade, Florida

a Derived from SRI 2002
b Plant capacity was available only for hydrogen fluoride, and was reported as 80,000 and 120,000 metric tons for DuPont and Honeywell, respectively.
c Merchant producers. Alcoa produces hydrogen fluoride as a nonisolatable product.
d Formally General Electric

Reference (page 195). September 2003 (published March 2004). TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR
FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp11.pdf

TABLE 4. Exposure to Fluoride from INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
Hydrogen fluoride is the most important compound of fluorine. Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production of most fluorine-containing chemicals. [Anhydrous = without water] (Ref. 1, page 199)
	Industrial Activity	% Used	Details	Reference
Hydrogen fluoride	Aluminum manufacturing	6 %	- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used - Generally, the aluminum industry consumes 10–40 kg of fluoride per metric ton of aluminum produced. The AlF3 used in aluminum reduction cells may be produced directly from acid-grade fluorspar or byproduct fluorosilicic acid, rather than from hydrogen fluoride.	1 (page 199)
Hydrogen fluoride	Brick Works			1
Hydrogen fluoride	Chemical derivatives	18 %		1
Hydrogen fluoride	Coal plants			1 (page 199)
Hydrogen fluoride	Electronic Industry Electrical and electronic equipment		- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production - Hydrogen fluoride may be used to -- etch glass in TV picture tubes -- to clean silicon chips	1 (page 199)
Hydrogen fluoride	Fluorescent light bulbs		- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production	1 (page 199)
Hydrogen fluoride	Glass etching		- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used	1
Hydrogen fluoride	Exotic metal extraction		- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used
Hydrogen fluoride	High octane gasoline (petroleum alkylation catalysts)	4 %	- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used as a catalyst in the petroleum alkylation, a process that increases the octane rating of petroleum.	1 (page 199)
Hydrogen fluoride	Inorganic fluorides		Fluorine gas is used captively for the production of various inorganic fluorides.
Hydrogen fluoride	Plastics Refrigerants Fluorocarbon chemicals, including hydrofluorocarbons, hydro-fluorochlorocarbons, fluoropolymers	60%	- The most important use of hydrogen fluoride is in the production of these chemicals; 60% of production of HF is used for this purpose. - Demand for hydrogen fluoride for fluorocarbons, broadly used as refrigerants, is increasing as a nonchlorinated alternative to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. (Production of fluorocarbons uses more hydrogen fluoride than production of chlorofluorocarbons.)	1 (page 199)
Hydrogen fluoride	Metal coatings		- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used	1
Hydrogen fluoride	Pharmaceuticals		- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production	1
Hydrogen fluoride	Phosphate Fertilizer plants			1
Hydrogen fluoride	Plastics Industry		- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production	1
Hydrogen fluoride	Quartz purification		- Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used
Hydrogen fluoride	Refrigerants		- Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production - Demand for hydrogen fluoride for fluorocarbons, broadly used as refrigerants, is increasing as a nonchlorinated alternative to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. - Production of fluorocarbons uses more hydrogen fluoride than production of chlorofluorocarbons.
Hydrogen fluoride	Stainless steel pickling	5 %	Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used	1
Hydrogen fluoride Fluorine gas	Uranium chemicals production	3 % of Hydrogen Fluoride 70–80% of fluorine production.	In uranium chemicals production, hydrogen fluoride is used to convert uranium oxide (yellow cake, U3O8) to UF4 before further fluorination to UF6. Fluorine gas is used captively for the production of various inorganic fluorides. The preparation of fluorides of an element in its highest oxidation state makes use of fluorine’s oxidizing and fluorinating ability. The most important product is uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which is used in the gaseous diffusion process for producing enriched uranium-235 for the nuclear industry. This use consumes 70–80% of fluorine production.
	Wood preservatives
Hydrogen fluoride	Tile Works			1
Reference 1. September 2003 (published March 2004). TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp11.pdf

Table 4.1. U.S. Manufacturers of Hydrogen Fluoride, Fluorine, Sodium Fluoride, Fluosilicic Acid, and Sodium Silicofluoride a Ref: page 195
	Company	Location
Hydrogen Fluoride b,c	Dupont	La Porte, Texas
Hydrogen Fluoride b,c	Honeywell d	Geismar, Louisiana
Fluorine	Honeywell d	Metropolis, Illinois
Sodium fluoride	Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc.	Phillipsburg, New Jersey
	Ozark Fluorine Specialties, Inc.	Tulsa, Oklahoma
	Solvay Fluorides, Inc.	Alorton, Illinois
Sodium silicofluoride	IMC Phosphates Company, IMC-Agrico Phosphates	Faustina, Louisiana
	Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation	Mulberry, Florida
	Solvay Fluorides, Inc.	Alorton, Illinois
Fluosilicic acid	Cargill Fertilizer, Inc.	Riverview, Florida
	Farmland Hydro, L.P.	Bartow, Florida
	IMC Phosphates Company, IMC-Agrico Phosphates	Faustina, Louisiana; Nichols, Florida; South Pierce, Florida; Uncle Sam, Louisiana
	PCS Phosphate Co. Inc.	Aurora, North Carolina
	Royster-Clark Inc.	Americus, Georgia; Chesapeake, Virginia; Florence, Alabama; Hartsville, South Carolina
	Solvay Fluorides, Inc.	Alorton, Illinois
	U.S. Agri-Chemicals Corporation	Fort Meade, Florida
a Derived from SRI 2002 b Plant capacity was available only for hydrogen fluoride, and was reported as 80,000 and 120,000 metric tons for DuPont and Honeywell, respectively. c Merchant producers. Alcoa produces hydrogen fluoride as a nonisolatable product. d Formally General Electric
Reference (page 195). September 2003 (published March 2004). TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp11.pdf