Acute health effects in a community after a release of hydrofluoric acid
- Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA (USA)
{approximately} 3,000 persons were evacuated from a Texas community after 24,036 kg (53,000 lb) of caustic hydrofluoric acid (HF) were released from a nearby petrochemical plant. Emergency room and hospital records of 939 persons who were seen at two area hospitals were reviewed. Most persons who presented at the emergency rooms were female (56%) or black (60%), and their mean age was 33.9 y. The most frequently reported symptoms were eye irritation (41.5%), burning throat (21%), headache (20.6%), and shortness of breath (19.4%). Physical examination results were normal for 49% of the cases; however, irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, skin, and lungs were noted on other exams. Decreased pulmonary function was demonstrated by pulmonary function tests (forced expiratory volume in the first second, less than 80% of predicted value, 42.3%); hypoxemia (pO2 less than 80 mm Hg, 17.4%) and hypocalcemia (less than 8.5 mg/dl, 16.3%) were also noted. Ninety-four (10%) of the cases were hospitalized, and more than 83% of all cases were discharged with a primary diagnosis of HF exposure. There are several reports of individuals who are acutely and chronically exposed to HF; however, we are unaware of other published reports that describe exposure of a community to HF. This incident represented a unique opportunity to study the immediate health impact on a community of residents who were exposed to a hazardous materials release. Results of this analysis suggest that (a) initial health problems should be followed up, (b) any long-term health effects of HF exposure must be assessed, and (c) the health impact on the population at risk should be determined.
- OSTI ID:
- 5590744
- Journal Information:
- Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Vol. 46:3; ISSN 0003-9896
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HEALTH HAZARDS
ACUTE EXPOSURE
CONJUNCTIVITIS
LUNGS
MAN
SKIN
SYMPTOMS
TEXAS
ANIMALS
BODY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSE ORGANS DISEASES
USA
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology