Return to Ammonium bifluoride Index Page

Activity: Wood Preservative (Inorganic)
Structure:

Adverse Effects:
Bone
Brain
CNS
Heart
Kidney
Tremors
Chemical Weapons Precursor for the production of sarin-family nerve agents
Enviromental

Liver (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

PubMed Abstract: Male Wistar rats were exposed to NH4F in concentration corresponding to mean annual limit of fluoride compounds in the atmospheric air. After 3, 6 and 9 months a microsomal fraction was isolated from the liver, and the composition as well as the metabolic activity of this fraction was determined. The content of microsomal protein increased after 3-month-long period of experiment, and subsequently it dropped after the period of 9 months. The content of phospholipids decreased after 3 months. The content of microsomal cholesterol was particularly high after a 6-month-long experiment. There were also changes in the contents of individual phospholipid fractions, and fatty acids of phospholipids. The content of cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 and activity of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase did not change. Activity of NADPH-dependent reductase of cytochrome c--decreased after the period of 9 months. Moreover, as consequence of changes in the activity of cytochrome P-450 system and the endoplasmic reticulum composition, alterations were observed in the metabolism of the tested substrates i.e. aniline and aminopyrine. The aniline turnover was inhibited after 6 and that of aminopyrine after 9 months experiment. The observed changes may prove that the detoxication capacity of the liver was impaired due to being exposed to ammonium fluoride.
Ref: Juzyszyn Z (1991). [Chronic effect of ammonium fluoride on selected parameters of microsomal fracture of the rat liver with special reference to the cytochrome P-450 system]. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 1991;37:49-64.

Bone - Brain - CNS - Heart - Kidney - Tremors (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

CNS - Heart -
Potential Health Effects: If inhaled or swallowed, this compound can cause fluoride poisoning. Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Later effects include central nervous system effects, cardiovascular effects and death.

Inhalation: May cause irritation and burns to the respiratory tract, symptoms may include coughing, sore throat, and labored breathing. May be absorbed through inhalation of dust; symptoms may parallel those from ingestion exposure. Irritation and burning effects may not appear immediately.

Brain, Heart, Kidney, Tremors -
Ingestion: May cause salivation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, followed by symptoms of weakness, tremors, shallow respiration, carpopedal spasm, convulsions, and coma. May cause brain and kidney damage. Affects heart and circulatory system. Death may be caused by respiratory paralysis. Lethal dose estimated at between 1 teaspoonful and 1 oz.

Skin Contact: Causes irritation and burns to the skin. Effects may not appear immediately.
Eye Contact: Causes irritation. May be extremely irritating with possible burns to eye tissue and permanent eye damage may result.

Anemia, Bone -
Chronic Exposure: Chronic exposure may cause mottling of teeth and bone damage (osteosclerosis) and fluorosis. Symptoms of fluorisis include brittle bones,weight loss, anemia, calcified ligaments, general ill health and joint stiffness.

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
Populations that appear to be at increased risk from the effects of fluoride are individuals that suffer from diabetes insipidus or some forms of renal impairment.
Ref: Analytyka. Material Safety Data Sheet. Online as of September 15, 2003.
http://www.analytyka.com.mx/tabla%20periodica/MSDS/N/AMMONIUM%20BIFLUORIDE.htm

Chemical Weapons Precursor for the production of sarin-family nerve agents (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

Bifluorides: Ammonium bifluoride, Potassium bifluoride, Sodium bifluoride. Bifluorides are used as a source of the fluorine atom in the synthesis of all of the G-type nerve agents except Tabun, in which the fluorine atom is replaced by a cyanide group. All bifluorides are synthesized from ammonium bifluoride. Ammonium bifluoride is in turn made from ammonium fluoride which is made by the reaction of ammonium hydroxide with hydrofluoric acid (HF.) Ammonia is manufactured on an extremely large scale (>10 million tons per annum in the US) using the Haber process, for which Fritz Haber (who played a major role in the German chemical weapons program in World War I) won a Nobel Prize. Worldwide hydrogen fluoride manufacture is approximately 400,000 tons. The quantities needed for manufacture of a stockpile of G agent would be miniscule in comparison.
Ammonium fluoride is converted to the bifluoride by dehydrating an aqueous solution of ammonium fluoride. The other bifluorides are manufactured by essentially the same process, except that the water, and the more volatile ammonia, are driven off in the presence of a sodium or potassium compound.
Ref: Nerve Agent Precursors: Bifluorides: Ammonium bifluoride, Potassium bifluoride, Sodium bifluoride.

... some of the precursor chemicals which are early in the production process and/or are widely produced in industry (and hence not considered suitable for effective monitoring under the CWC [Chemical Weapons Convention]) have been included on the AGL [Australia Group List], because they are either known or suspected to have been sought for CW purposes. Such precursors include: ...the fluoride chemicals ... for the production of sarin-family nerve agents...

14 [potassium fluoride],
24 [hydrogen fluoride],
41 [potassium bifluoride],
42 [ammonium bifluoride],
43 [sodium bifluoride] and
44 [sodium fluoride]
Ref: A COMPARISON OF THE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIST OF CHEMICAL WEAPON PRECURSORS AND THE CWC SCHEDULES OF CHEMICALS by Robert J. Mathews. September 1993. Quarterly Journal of the Harvard Sussex Program on CBW Armament and Arms Limitation. Issue No. 21.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Chemical.Weapon.Precursors.pdf

• Note from FAN: Sarin was once used as an insecticide as cited in the abstract below

Int. Pest Control16(6): 4-9; 1974
Organophosphorus insecticides by Cremlyn RJW
Abstract excerpt: PESTAB. The article reviews the main types of organophosphorus insecticides. Early examples such as dimefox [also fluorineated], tabun, sarin, pestox, and parathion had the disadvantage of high mammalian toxicity...
From TOXNET