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Activity: Insecticide,
Former US EPA List 3 Inert
Structure:
Adverse Effects:
Anemia
Blood
Body Weight Decrease
Bone
Brain
Endocrine: Pituitary
Endocrine: Thyroid
Genotoxic
Kidney
Chemical Weapon Precursor for the production
of Sarin-family nerve agents
Anemia
(click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
Effects of Overexposure. Inhalation of dust or mist may cause
severe mucous membrane irritation, burns and, with prolonged or
repeated exposure, may cause fluorosis.
Eye and skin exposure causes irritation and burns. Product may
be absorbed through the skin and produce
signs of fluorosis such as weight
loss, brittleness of bones, anemia,
weakness and stiffness of joints. Ingestion is harmful
due to acid burns and fluoride poisoning. Internal bleeding may
develop. Effects may not be immediately apparent, especially with
dilute solutions.
Ref: Material Safety Data Sheet for Sodium
bifluoride. Rev. March 29, 1996. Chemtech Products, Inc., St.
Louis MO 63131
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.msds.1996.pdf
CHRONIC EXPOSURE - Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid are
extreme irritants to any part of the body that they contact. The
main route of exposure to hydrogen fluoride is inhalation, followed
by dermal contact for acute exposure and ingestion for chronic
exposure. Symptoms of the chronic effects of hydrofluoric acid
include weight loss, malaise, anemia,
leukopenia, discoloration of teeth,
and osteosclerosis.
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Blood
(click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
CHRONIC EXPOSURE - Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid are
extreme irritants to any part of the body that they contact. The
main route of exposure to hydrogen fluoride is inhalation, followed
by dermal contact for acute exposure and ingestion for chronic
exposure. Symptoms of the chronic effects of hydrofluoric acid
include weight loss, malaise, anemia, leukopenia,
discoloration of teeth, and osteosclerosis.
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN:
1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
•
Definition of Leukopenia: an abnormal lowering of the white blood
cell count
Body
Weight Decrease (click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
Effects of Overexposure. Inhalation of dust or mist may cause
severe mucous membrane irritation, burns and, with prolonged or
repeated exposure, may cause fluorosis.
Eye and skin exposure causes irritation and burns. Product may
be absorbed through the skin and produce
signs of fluorosis such as weight
loss, brittleness of bones, anemia,
weakness and stiffness of joints. Ingestion is harmful
due to acid burns and fluoride poisoning. Internal bleeding may
develop. Effects may not be immediately apparent, especially with
dilute solutions.
Ref: Material Safety Data Sheet for Sodium
bifluoride. Rev. March 29, 1996. Chemtech Products, Inc., St.
Louis MO 63131
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.msds.1996.pdf
CHRONIC EXPOSURE o Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid are
extreme irritants to any part of the body that they contact. The
main route of exposure to hydrogen fluoride is inhalation, followed
by dermal contact for acute exposure and ingestion for chronic
exposure. Symptoms of the chronic effects of hydrofluoric acid
include weight loss, malaise, anemia,
leukopenia, discoloration of teeth,
and osteosclerosis.
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Bone
(click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
Effects of Overexposure. Inhalation of dust or mist may cause
severe mucous membrane irritation, burns and, with prolonged or
repeated exposure, may cause fluorosis.
Eye and skin exposure causes irritation and burns. Product may
be absorbed through the skin and produce
signs of fluorosis such as weight
loss, brittleness
of bones, anemia,
weakness and stiffness of joints. Ingestion is harmful
due to acid burns and fluoride poisoning. Internal bleeding may
develop. Effects may not be immediately apparent, especially with
dilute solutions.
Ref: Material Safety Data Sheet for Sodium
bifluoride. Rev. March 29, 1996. Chemtech Products, Inc., St.
Louis MO 63131
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.msds.1996.pdf
-- CHRONIC EXPOSURE o Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid
are extreme irritants to any part of the body that they contact.
The main route of exposure to hydrogen fluoride is inhalation,
followed by dermal contact for acute exposure and ingestion for
chronic exposure. Symptoms of the chronic effects of hydrofluoric
acid include weight loss, malaise, anemia, leukopenia, discoloration
of teeth, and osteosclerosis.
-- MUSCULOSKELETAL 0.2.15.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE - Acute exposure may
cause decalcification and corrosion of the
bone beneath the area of dermal burn. 0.2.15.2 CHRONIC
EXPOSURE - Fluorosis is characterized by
skeletal changes such as increased bone density of the spin and
pelvis, calcification of ligaments, and hyperostosis although
clinical fluorosis is unlikely before 10 years of exposure to
fluoride.
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Brain
(click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
In addition to cardiovascular, neuromuscular and gastrointestinal
derangements, acute fluoride poisoning causes major
adverse effects on two other organ systems, the brain and the
kidneys. The more critical dysfunctions
are those of the brain. Toxic signs occasionally include
headache, excessive salivation, nystagmus and dilated pupils.
Transient convulions have been described, but lethargy, stupor
and coma are far more common, and death is often ascribed to respiratory
failure, presumably of central origin. Whatever the causes of
these brain derangements, it is noteworthy that coma and respiratory
arrest may develop in the presence of a normal blood pressure.
Apparently the central neural effects of fluoride are not solely
secondary to an inadequate cerebral circulation. /Fluoride/
[Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of
Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins,
1984.,p. III-187]
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Endocrine:
Pituitary (click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
ENDOCRINE 0.2.16.2 CHRONIC EXPOSURE - Fluoride
exposure can cause moderate functional changes in the hypophysis-thyroid
gland system without any clinical manifestations. [FAN
note: Hypophysis = Pituitary gland]
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Endocrine:
Thyroid (click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
ENDOCRINE 0.2.16.2 CHRONIC EXPOSURE - Fluoride
exposure can cause moderate functional changes in the hypophysis-thyroid
gland system without any clinical manifestations. [FAN
note: Hypophysis = Pituitary gland]
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Genotoxic
(click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
Abstract: The L5178Y
mouse lymphoma cell forward-mutation assay was used to test for
the mutagenic activity of sodium and potassium fluoride at the
thymidine kinase locus. Mutants were detected by colony formation
in soft agar in the presence of trifluorothymidine.
Mutagenic and toxic responses were observed in the concentration
range of 300-600 micrograms/ml with both sodium and potassium
fluoride. Approximately 3-fold increases in mutant frequency
were observed for concentrations in the 500-700 micrograms/ml
range that reduced the relative total growth to approximately
10% in the absence or presence of a rat-liver S9 activation system.
A sample of 30% sodium fluoride-70% sodium
bifluoride (NaHF2) induced a similar mutagenic response but was
more toxic with respect to the fluoride concentration.
A specificity for fluoride ions in causing mutagenesis was indicated
by the fact that much higher concentrations of sodium or potassium
chloride were necessary to cause toxicity and increases in the
mutant frequency. The possible involvement of chromosomal changes
was signaled by the predominant increase in the small colony class
of mutants.
Ref: Caspary WJ et al. (1987).
Mutagenic
activity of fluorides in mouse lymphoma cells. Mutat Res.
Mar;187(3):165-80.
-- GENOTOXICITY - DNA damage and chromosome
aberrations have been reported in insect studies.
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Kidney
(click
on for all fluorinated pesticides)
In addition to cardiovascular, neuromuscular and gastrointestinal
derangements, acute fluoride poisoning causes major
adverse effects on two other organ systems, the brain and the
kidneys. The more critical dysfunctions
are those of the brain. Toxic signs occasionally include
headache, excessive salivation, nystagmus and dilated pupils.
Transient convulions have been described, but lethargy, stupor
and coma are far more common, and death is often ascribed to respiratory
failure, presumably of central origin. Whatever the causes of
these brain derangements, it is noteworthy that coma and respiratory
arrest may develop in the presence of a normal blood pressure.
Apparently the central neural effects of
fluoride are not solely secondary to an inadequate cerebral circulation.
/Fluoride/ [Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical
Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams
and Wilkins, 1984.,p. III-187]
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Bank for
SODIUM HYDROGEN DIFLUORIDE CASRN: 1333-83-1
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sodium.bifluoride.toxnet.htm
Chemical
Weapon 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
1995
UN Monitoring and Verification of Iraq's Compliance. They
include:
List
A (Precursors):
Hydrogen fluoride
(7664-39-3)
Potassium fluoride (7789-23-3)
Ammonium bifluoride (1341-49-7)
Sodium bifluoride (1333-83-1)
Sodium fluoride (7681-49-4)
Potassium bifluoride (7789-29-9)
Fluorine (7782-41-4)
List
B:
Sarin (107-44-8)
Soman
(96-64-0)
DF (676-99-3)
PFIB
(382-21-8).
Also included are fluoropolymers
(e.g. Aflex COP, Aflon COP 88, F 40,
Ftorlon, Ftoroplast, Neoflon, ETFE, Teflon, PVDF, Tefzel,
PTFE, PE
TFE 500 LZ, Haller).
Ref: 1995
- Chemical
& Biological Weapons. Fluorine chemicals
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