Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

WHITE ACID

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Dangerous POISON. Available ONLY for industrial and manufacturing purposes. To be used by
or in accordance with directions of accredited pest control officers. Operators to be
trained in procedures for safe use of material. Glass etching compound.

SYNONYMS

"ammonium difluoride mixed with hydrofluoric acid", "ammonium bifluoride and hydrofluoric
acid mixture"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes severe burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Severely toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 5 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  The material is considered to be harmful by all exposure routes.  Fluoride causes severe loss of calcium in the blood, with symptoms appearing several hours later including painful and rigid muscle contractions of the limbs. Cardiovascular collapse can occur and may cause death with increased heart rate and other heart rhythm irregularities. The brain and kidneys may be affected. Other toxic effects include headache, increased saliva output, jerking of the eyeball and dilated pupils, lethargy, stupor, coma and rarely, convulsions.  

EYE

  The material can produce severe chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Eye contact is extremely painful and may cause rapid corneal damage.  The material may produce severe irritation to the eye causing pronounced inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  The vapor may produce pronounced discomfort of the eyes when present at higher concentrations and this generally gives warning of excessive exposure and the need for control measures to ensure safe working conditions.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce severely toxic effects; systemic effects may result following absorption and these may be fatal.  The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Bare unprotected skin should not be exposed to this material.  Solutions of hydrofluoric acid, as dilute as 2%, may cause severe skinburns.  Fluorides are easily absorbed through the skin and cause death of soft tissue and erode bone. Healing is delayed and death of tissue may continue to spread beneath skin.  The material may cause severe skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin. Repeated exposures may produce severe ulceration.  Solution of material in moisture on the skin, or perspiration, may markedly increase skin corrosion and accelerate tissue destruction.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Acute effects of fluoride inhalation include irritation of nose and throat, coughing and chest discomfort. A single acute over-exposure may even cause nose bleed. Pre-existing respiratory conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis may be aggravated by exposure. Occupational asthma may result from exposure.  The material may produce respiratory tract irritation, and result in damage to the lung including reduced lung function.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact, eye contact with the material and inhalation of vapor.  Repeated human exposures to hydrogen fluoride 6 hours/day for 10 - 50 days  at concentrations as high as 4.7 ppm were tolerated without severe adverse  reaction. At concentrations exceeding 3 ppm researchers noted burning and  irritation of the eyes and nose and burning of the skin. Three subjects  who inhaled approximately 3 ppm had average urinary excretions of  6.7-9.4 mg fluoride/day. One epidemiological study was able to  demonstrate that there was no significant change in pulmonary function  resulting from occupational exposure to average concentrations of 1.02 ppm  hydrogen fluoride. A further study indicated a threshold for minimal  increases (Grade 1) in bone density (fluorosis) as less than 3.38 mg/m3  fluoride (4.3 ppm). Grade 1 fluorosis resulted in no medically recognised  disability.