Hydrofluoric acid

RTECS #

MW7875000

CAS #

7664-39-3
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

December 2018

Molecular Weight

20.01

Molecular Formula

Synonyms

Acide fluorhydrique (French)
Acido fluoridrico (Italian)
Fluorowodor (Polish)
Fluorwasserstoff (German)
Fluorwaterstof (Dutch)
Hydrofluoride
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride (ACGIH:OSHA)
RCRA waste number U134
Rubigine

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /human	50 mg	severe	AMLTAS 37,110,1957
skin /rat	50%/3M	severe	JTCTDW 40,861,2002

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
Cytogenetic Analysis	inhalation/rat	1 mg/m³/6H/24D- intermittent	CYGEDX 9(1),40,1975
DNA Damage	inhalation/Drosophila melanogaster	1300 ppb/6W	ATENBP 5,117,1971
sex chromosome loss and nondisjunction	inhalation/Drosophila melanogaster	2900 ppb	FLUOA4 4,25,1971

Reproductive Effects Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rat	470 µg/m³/4H (1-22D pregnant)	Reproductive: Effects on fertility: Pre- implantation mortality (e.g., reduction in number of implants per female; total number of implants per corpora lutea) Reproductive: Effects on fertility: Post- implantation mortality (e.g., dead and/or resorbed implants per total number of implants)	GTPZAB 19(3),57,1975
inhalation/rat	4980 µg/m³/4H (1-22D pregnant)	Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetal death	GTPZAB 19(3),57,1975

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, skin	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 5 pph/3M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TOLED5 248,25,2016
In Vitro/Human, skin	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 30 pph/3M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Apoptosis in vitro In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TOLED5 248,25,2016
In Vitro/Human, skin	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 50 pph/10M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell Viability (cell death), unspecified assay In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Apoptosis in vitro In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TOLED5 248,25,2016
inhalation/guinea pig	Lowest published lethal concentration: 25 mg/m³/5H		VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/guinea pig	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 4327 ppm		ENTOX* -,542,2005
inhalation/guinea pig	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 4327 ppm/15M	Eye: Lacrimation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	AIHAAP 24,253,1963
inhalation/guinea pig	Lowest published lethal concentration: 40 mg/m³/2H		VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/human	Lowest published lethal concentration: 50 ppm/30M		34ZIAG -,318,1969
inhalation/human	Lowest published lethal concentration: 200 mg/m³		VCVN5* -,350,1993
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 25 mg/m³	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough Eye: Conjunctiva irritation	VCVN5* -,350,1993
inhalation/mammal (species unspecified)	lowest published toxic concentration: 8 mg/m³	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough	VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/mammal (species unspecified)	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.03 mg/m³	Eye: Other eye effects	VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/man	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 mg/m³/1M	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough	JIDHAN 16,129,1934
inhalation/monkey	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 1774 ppm/1H	Behavioral: Coma Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cyanosis Gastrointestinal: Other changes	AMRL** TR-70-77,1970
inhalation/monkey	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 1774 ppm		ENTOX* -,542,2005
inhalation/mouse	Lowest published lethal concentration: 263 ppm/1H		TOXID9 78,149,2004
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 342 ppm		ENTOX* -,542,2005
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 342 ppm/1H	Eye: Corneal damage Eye: Other eye effects Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	JCTODH 3,61,1976
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 5000 mg/m³/5M		VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 270 mg/m³/60M		VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/rabbit	Lowest published lethal concentration: 40 mg/m³/2H		VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/rabbit	Lowest published lethal concentration: 260 mg/m³/7H		AMIHBC 2,716,1950
inhalation/rabbit	Lowest published lethal concentration: 25 mg/m³/5H		VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 148 mg/m³/6H	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects	VCVN5* -,349,1993
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 1276 ppm		ENTOX* -,542,2005
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 1276 ppm/1H	Eye: Lacrimation Behavioral: Change in motor activity (specific assay) Gastrointestinal: Changes in structure or function of salivary glands	AIHAAP 33,661,1972
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 1100 mg/m³/60M		VCVN5* -,349,1993
intraperitoneal/rat	lowest published lethal dose: 25 mg/kg		TXAPA9 13,76,1968
intraperitoneal/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 25 mg/kg		ENTOX* -,542,2005
intravenous/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 17.4 mg/kg		TIHEEC 23,5,2007
intravenous/rat	lowest published lethal dose: 13.1 mg/kg		TIHEEC 23,5,2007
intravenous/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 3.2 mg/kg	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Renal function tests depressed Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: P	TIHEEC 23,5,2007
intravenous/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 6.4 mg/kg	Endocrine: Hyperglycemia Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: Ca Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: Metabolic acidosis	TIHEEC 23,5,2007
intravenous/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 9.6 mg/kg	Endocrine: Hyperglycemia Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: K Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: Metabolic acidosis	TIHEEC 23,5,2007
oral/man	lowest published toxic dose: 143 mg/kg	Cardiac: Arrythmias (indlucing changes in conduction) Vascular: BP lowering not characterized in autonomic section Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in tubules (including acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis)	JTCTDW 35,307,1997
skin/mouse	lowest published lethal dose: 500 mg/kg	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Spastic paralysis with/without sensory change Behavioral: Tremor Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression	SAIGBL 17,281,1975
subcutaneous/frog	lowest published lethal dose: 112 mg/kg		CRSBAW 124,133,1937

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.15 mg/m³/24H/78W- continuous	Musculoskeletal: Changes in teeth and supporting structures	VCVN5* -,350,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 300 µg/m³/24H/22W- continuous	Behavioral: Alteration of classical conditioning Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: True cholinesterase	GISAAA 30(5),11,1965
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 252 µg/m³/6H/17W- intermittent	Blood: Changes in erythrocyte (RBC) count Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Monoamine oxidase Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Dehydrogenases	GISAAA 41(5),6,1976
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 72 mg/m³/3H/3D- intermittent	Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	VCVN5* -,349,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 10 mg/m³/24H/4D- continuous	Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)	VCVN5* -,349,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m³/24H/17W- continuous	Musculoskeletal: Changes in teeth and supporting structures	VCVN5* -,350,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 42.3 mg/m³/24H/6W- continuous	Musculoskeletal: Changes in teeth and supporting structures	VCVN5* -,350,1989
subcutaneous/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 364 mg/kg/26W- intermittent	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes Musculoskeletal: Changes in teeth and supporting structures Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	FKIZA4 50,1397,1959

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-TVA 0.5 ppm;ceiling concentration 2 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-Not classifiable as a human carcinogen	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		JEMME* 10,163,1992
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AMSSAQ 400,5,1963
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		DIMON* 46,551,2000
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,542,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,683,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ISMEA* 10,381,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CCACL* 21,719,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 29,1,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		RTOPDW 54,247,2009

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 3 ppm (2 mg/m³)	DTLVS* 3,131,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypt	time-weighted average 2 ppm (2 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	ceiling concentration 3 ppm (2.6 mg(F)/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 1.8 ppm (1.5 mg/m³);KZW 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), skin, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 1.8 ppm (1.5 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m³, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 1.8 ppm (1.5 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-EC	time-weighted average 1.5 mg/m³ (1.8 ppm);short term exposure limit 2.5 mg/m³ (3 ppm), JUN2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 1.8 ppm (1.5 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), skin, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 1.8 ppm (1.5 mg/m³), VLE 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 1 ppm (0.83 mg/m³), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 1.5 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 2.5 mg/m³, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m³, short term exposure limit 10 mg(F)/m³, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 0.7 ppm (0.6 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	ceiling concentration 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	ceiling concentration 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	peak 3 ppm (2.5 mg(F)/m³), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m³, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	ceiling concentration 3 ppm (2.6 mg(F)/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m³, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 0.8 ppm (0.6 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 1,8 ppm (1,5 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 3 ppm (2,5 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 0.5 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 4 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	time-weighted average 0.1 mg(F)/m³, short term exposure limit 0.5 mg(F)/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	ceiling concentration 2 ppm (1.7 mg/m³), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 1 mg(F)/m³, KZG-week 4 mg(F)/m³, inhal, skin, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 1 ppm (0.83 mg/m³), KZG-week 2 ppm (1.66 mg/m³), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 3 ppm (2 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEY	time-weighted average 3 ppm (2 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 1.8 ppm (1.5 mg(F)/m³);short term exposure limit 3 ppm (2.5 mg(F)/m³), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 3 ppm (2 mg(F)/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 3 ppm (2 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 3 ppm	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 3 ppm (2 mg(F)/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO HYDROGEN FLUORIDE-air	10H time-weighted average 3 ppm;short term exposure limit 6 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 38550; Number of Industries 96; Total Number of Facilities 11332; Number of Occupations 89; Total Number of Employees Exposed 189051; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 68792
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 38550; Number of Industries 97; Total Number of Facilities 6590; Number of Occupations 68; Total Number of Employees Exposed 68886

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/93/182566/AS)
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: D melanogaster Sex-linked lethal
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Acids, inorganic, 7903
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID110

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health