I have been following the HF thread, and feel compelled to add my $0.02.
I am the director of a Poison Control Center which receives many calls
about HF exposure each year. These range from disasterous (100% HF fumes
inhaled) to merely excruciating. HF in dilute solutions does not cause
any pain at the time of skin exposure, but the fluoride ion migrates
quite well through skin, and can cause deep, and VERY painful burns. As
always, the best treatment is prevention. I heartily endorse the wear
gloves, and IMMEDIATELY wash skin if splashed (plain water is fine)
approach.
One of the more troubling exposures we see is hand contamination which is
not washed. Within a couple of hours, mild burning which progresses to
more severe pain, sometimes accompanied by tissue damage occurs.
Fingernails are a bad problem, because HF penetrates nails, and nails
often absorb a fairly substantial amount of HF thus becoming a deposit
for continuing exposure. In many cases, the best solution is removal of
the fingernail(s). As you might imagine, this smarts.
Moral of the story: Use according to label directions. Wear protective
gloves. Immediately decontaminate exposed skin. First aid: (if symptoms
occur) soak the affected area in cold milk. Milk contains calcium, which
complexes with fluoride. Other possibilities include soaking in strong
epsom salts solution (some ice may be added, but too much ice could
superimpose a frostbite injury on the chemical injury).
For patients seen in health care facilities, we normally recommend
application of calcium gluconate or calcium chloride solutions or gels
covered by a latex glove. Opiates are often required for pain. Deep
tissue injuries may occur. This stuff is bad news. Be careful!
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