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31-day study of the toxicological effects of the inhalation of gaseous fluorine at a concentration of approximately 0. 8 mg/m/sup 3/

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5483022

The effects arising from the daily inhalation of gaseous fluorine-air mixtures were studied in 4 animal species. Groups consisting of 5 dogs, 30 rabbits, 24 guinea pigs, and 18 rats were exposed 6 days weekly to a concentration of fluorine approximating 0.8 mg/m/sup 3/ (0.5 ppM). Twelve of the rabbits and 12 of the guinea pigs were subjected to head-exposure only. Toxicity was evaluated from the study of several factors: mortality, growth response, and histopathologic, hematologic, and clinical-chemical changes. No mortality resulting from exposure to fluorine at this concentration was observed. On the 4th day of exposure a head-exposed rabbit, and a head-exposed guinea pig died, and on the morning after the last (31st) day of exposure a fully exposed rabbit died; these deaths, however, appeared to result from causes unrelated to exposure. Growth was not noticeably affected by exposure, nor were any significant histopathologic or hematologic changes produced. Blood calcium and NPN levels of the dog and rabbit remained within normal limits. The excretions of urinary fluorine and amino nitrogen by the rabbit were not significantly altered. Pigmentary changes suggestive of fluorosis in rat incisors began to appear only during the last week of exposure. A 1.5 to 2-fold increase in fluoride content of rat incisors and femurs occurred during the exposure-period.

Research Organization:
Rochester Univ., NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76EV03490
OSTI ID:
5483022
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/03490-T5; ON: DE85010191
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English