Hazard Summary Identification Reason For

Common Name: FLUORINE

CAS Number: 7782-41-4 DOT Number: UN 1045 (Gas) RTK Substance number: 0937 NA 9192 (Liquid) Date: October 1986 Revision: March 1999 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * Fluorine can affect you when breathed in and by passing EXPOSED through your skin. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Contact can cause severe eye and skin irritation and burns to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public leading to permanent eye damage. employers to provide their employees with information and * Breathing Fluorine can irritate the nose and throat. training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The * Breathing Fluorine can irritate the lungs causing coughing federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a requires private employers to provide similar training and build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a information to their employees. medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. * Prolonged exposure can cause Fluorine to concentrate in * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely the bones causing osteosclerosis (bone pain and fractures) evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area which is recognizable by the density of the bones in x-rays air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results and may be disabling. The teeth can become mottled. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Repeated exposure can cause nosebleeds, nausea, information under OSHA 1910.1020. vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and constipation. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Fluorine may damage the liver and kidneys. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * These effects do NOT occur when Fluorine is used to diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. treat drinking water to prevent cavities. * ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.035 ppm. * Fluorine is a HIGHLY REACTIVE CHEMICAL and a * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite DANGEROUS EXPLOSION HAZARD. broad. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as a warning of potentially hazardous exposures. IDENTIFICATION Fluorine is a pale yellow to greenish gas or a cold liquid with WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS a sharp, irritating odor. It is used as a rocket fuel and to make OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit Fluorides, Fluorocarbons and other chemicals. (PEL) is 0.1 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. REASON FOR CITATION * Fluorine is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, 0.1 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift. HHAG, NFPA and EPA. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is List because it is REACTIVE. 1 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and * Definitions are provided on page 5. 2 ppm as a STEL (short term exposure limit).

* The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above.

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WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE Other Long-Term Effects * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Prolonged exposure can cause Fluorine to concentrate in ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust the bones causing osteosclerosis (bone pain and fractures) ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be which is recognizable by the density of the bones in x-rays worn. and may be disabling. The teeth can become mottled. * Wear protective work clothing. * Repeated exposure can cause nosebleeds, nausea, * On skin contact with liquid Fluorine, immediately vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and constipation. submerse the affected body part in warm water. * Fluorine may damage the liver and kidneys. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Fluorine * These effects do NOT occur when Fluorine is used to and at the end of the workshift. treat drinking water to prevent cavities. * Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may occur, employees should be provided with special clothing MEDICAL designed to prevent the freezing of body tissues. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In Medical Testing addition, as part of an ongoing education and training Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, effort, communicate all information on the health and the following is recommended: safety hazards of Fluorine to potentially exposed workers. * Urinary Fluoride level. Any result over 4 mg/liter This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all suggests overexposure. potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to following are recommended: any of the potential effects described below. ------* Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. * Liver and kidney function tests. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION * DEXA Bone Densitometry Scan (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and immediately or shortly after exposure to Fluorine: present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling * Contact can cause severe eye and skin irritation and burns exposure. leading to permanent eye damage. * Breathing Fluorine can irritate the nose and throat. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal * Breathing Fluorine can irritate the lungs causing coughing right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a Mixed Exposures medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may Chronic Health Effects worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, some time after exposure to Fluorine and can last for months stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health or years: problems.

Cancer Hazard WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous Fluorine has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most in animals. effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at Reproductive Hazard the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * According to the information presently available to the reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Fluorine has not been tested for its ability to affect sometimes necessary. reproduction.

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In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Clothing (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * Avoid skin contact with Fluorine. Wear protective gloves substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls can provide recommendations on the most protective should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when glove/clothing material for your operation. significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. * Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may occur, employees should be provided with special clothing In addition, the following controls are recommended: designed to prevent the freezing of body tissues.

* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) * Where possible, automatically transfer Fluorine or pump should be clean, available each day, and put on before liquid Fluorine from drums or other storage containers to work. process containers.

* Before entering a confined space where Fluorine may be present, check to make sure that an explosive Eye Protection concentration does not exist. * Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working with fumes, gases, or vapors. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles exposures. The following work practices are recommended: when working with liquids. * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. Fluorine should change into clean clothing promptly. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by Respiratory Protection individuals who have been informed of the hazards of IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. exposure to Fluorine. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate written program that takes into account workplace conditions, work area for emergency use. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Fluorine, immediately wash or * Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.1 ppm, use shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the a MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other contacted Fluorine, whether or not known skin contact positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in has occurred. combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Fluorine is handled, apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. pressure mode. * Exposure to 25 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or health. If the possibility of exposure above 25 ppm exists, using the toilet. use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure- demand or other positive-pressure mode. WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for HANDLING AND STORAGE some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace * Prior to working with Fluorine you should be trained on controls are being installed), personal protective equipment its proper handling and storage. may be appropriate. * Fluorine reacts with all chemicals except NEON, HELIUM and ARGON. OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the * Fluorine reacts violently with OXIDIZING AGENTS appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, to train employees on how and when to use protective PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, equipment. CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and The following recommendations are only guidelines and may NITRIC); ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; COMBUSTIBLE not apply to every situation. MATERIALS (such as OIL and PAPER); HYDROGEN; BROMINE; IODINE; and CHEMICALLY ACTIVE METALS (such as POTASSIUM, SODIUM, MAGNESIUM and ZINC) resulting in ignition and/or explosions. FLUORINE page 4 of 6

* Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated ------area away from WATER and STEAM as Ozone and The following information is available from: Hydrofluoric Acid are produced. * Wherever Fluorine is used, handled, manufactured, or New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and Occupational Health Service fittings. PO Box 360 * Containers may explode if subjected to shock. Protect Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 from physical damage. (609) 984-1863 (609) 292-5677 (fax) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/ Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic health effects? Industrial Hygiene Information A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions from repeated exposures to a chemical. regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment term effects? including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated the results of industrial hygiene survey data. exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make you immediately sick. Medical Evaluation If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the exposed to chemicals? Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is Health Service, who can help you find the information you increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is need. determined by the length of time and the amount of material to which someone is exposed. Public Presentations Presentations and educational programs on occupational Q: When are higher exposures more likely? health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include unions, trade associations and other groups. physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas Right to Know Information Resources such as open containers), and "confined space" The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small questions about the identity and potential health effects of rooms, etc.). chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for Right to Know survey, education and training programs, community residents? labeling requirements, and general information regarding the A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those to (609) 984-2202. found in the workplace. However, people in the ------community may be exposed to contaminated water as well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This may be a problem for children or people who are already ill. FLUORINE page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.

A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts the United States Department of Transportation and the Service to identify a specific chemical. Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation burn. incident, and to protect themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency hazard. that regulates the transportation of chemicals. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA. A fetus is an unborn human or animal. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer. will ignite easily and burn rapidly. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public EPA. employees.

IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their measure of concentration by volume in air. cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly energy under certain conditions. dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of damaging the fetus. air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the limit recommended by ACGIH. federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and approves respirators. The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.

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Common Name: FLUORINE ======DOT Number: UN 1045 (Gas) FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire NA 9192 (Liquid) department. You can request emergency information from the NAERG Code: 124 (Gas) following: 167 (Liquid) CAS Number: 7782-41-4 CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 NJDEP HOTLINE: (609) 292-7172 ======Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA FLAMMABILITY - 0 HANDLING AND STORAGE (See page 3)

REACTIVITY - 4 REACTIVE FIRST AID

CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE In NJ, POISON INFORMATION 1-800-764-7661 POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE DO NOT USE WATER Eye Contact Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue 3=serious; 4=severe without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting

FIRE HAZARDS upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately.

* Fluorine is a REACTIVE nonflammable gas or liquid Skin Contact which will enhance combustion of other materials. * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash * If possible, stop flow of gas to fire or remove cylinders from area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical fire area. attention immediately. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. Breathing * Only use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. * Remove the person from exposure. DO NOT USE WATER ON FIRE as poisonous gases are * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if produced. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. * Fluorine may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.). * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained * Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES PHYSICAL DATA If liquid Fluorine is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: Vapor Pressure: 1 mm Hg at -367.6oF (-223oC) * Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from : Reactive area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. Water Solubility * Ventilate the area of spill or leak. OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES If Fluorine gas is leaked, take the following steps: Other Name: * Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from Fluorine-19 area of leak until clean-up is complete. * Ventilate area of leak to disperse the gas. ------* Stop flow of gas. If source of leak is a cylinder and the leak Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial cannot be stopped in place, remove the leaking cylinder to a purposes. safe place in the open air, and repair leak or allow cylinder ------to empty. NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND * DO NOT USE WATER OR WET METHOD. SENIOR SERVICES * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Fluorine as a Right to Know Program HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your Department of PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of (609) 984-2202 the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for ------specific recommendations. * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be applicable.