Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid: general information
Updated 22 October 2024
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Overview
Hydrogen fluoride can be a liquid or gas at room temperature; it has a boiling point of 19.5 ºC. It is corrosive, colourless and has a very strong odour. Hydrogen fluoride readily dissolves in water to form hydrofluoric acid which is also highly corrosive
Uses of Hydrogen Fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride is used in the production of refrigerants, herbicides, phosphate fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, aluminium, plastics, electrical components and fluorescent light bulbs.
Hydrofluoric acid is used in glass etching, metal extraction and stainless steel picking.
Outside the UK it might be present in some household rust removers.
How Hydrogen fluoride gets into the environment
Volcanoes are the largest natural source of hydrogen fluoride emissions into the atmosphere. This is estimated to be between 1 million to 7 million tonnes per year. It is then absorbed by the rain and clouds and falls to the ground within rain.
Hydrogen fluoride may also be released into the environment from industrial activities such as phosphate fertiliser plants, brick, glass and tile works, and during coal combustion.
Exposure to Hydrogen Fluoride
The general population may be exposed to low levels of hydrogen fluoride in the air. These levels would not be expected to cause adverse health effects.
Exposure to hydrogen fluoride is more likely to occur in an occupational setting. However, safe limits are enforced to protect employees; the safe levels are below those that are thought to cause harmful effects.
How exposure to Hydrogen Fluoride can affect your health
You may be exposed to hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid by breathing it, drinking it, or by contact with your skin. Following exposure to any chemical, the adverse health effects that you may encounter depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way you are exposed, the duration of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you were exposed to any other chemicals.
Hydrogen fluoride readily forms corrosive hydrofluoric acid when in contact with moisture.
Skin contact can result in topical burns of differing severity based on concentration one is exposed to. Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid can burn the eyes and skin. Following skin contact burns may be very painful and difficult to heal. Burns on the skin may not be visible until 24 hours after exposure.
Breathing in hydrogen fluoride can cause irritation of eyes and nose, sore throat, cough, chest tightness, headaches and confusion. In severe cases it can cause breathlessness and wheezing.
Ingestion of hydrofluoric acid can cause burning of the mouth and throat, and stomach pain.
Following exposure to high levels of hydrogen fluoride/hydrofluoric acid it can also be absorbed into the body and can cause drowsiness, heart problems and fitting.
Hydrogen Fluoride and cancer
There is no evidence to suggest that exposure to hydrogen fluoride/ hydrofluoric acid would cause cancer in humans or in animal studies. Hydrogen fluoride has not been reviewed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Vulnerable people
People with breathing difficulties such as asthma may be more sensitive to the effects of hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. This is because hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid can cause irritation of the airways leading to cough and shortness of breath.
Pregnancy and the unborn child
There is limited data available on the effects of exposure to hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid during pregnancy. Therefore, it is not possible to draw any definitive conclusions. Effects on the unborn child are more likely to occur if the exposure to hydrogen fluoride/hydrofluoric acid causes the mother to become unwell.
Children
Children are likely to demonstrate the same symptoms from exposure to hydrogen fluoride as adults. They are not expected to be more sensitive to the effects of hydrogen fluoride.
What to do if you are exposed to hydrogen fluoride
It is very unlikely that the general population will be exposed to a level of hydrogen fluoride high enough to cause adverse health effects. However, if you have any health concerns regarding exposure to hydrogen fluoride seek guidance from your GP or contact NHS 111.
If you have got hydrogen fluoride on your skin, you should remove yourself from the source of exposure, remove soiled clothing (not over the head), wash the affected area with lukewarm water and soap for at least 10 to 15 minutes and seek medical advice.
If you have got hydrogen fluoride in your eyes, remove contact lenses, irrigate the affected eye with lukewarm water for at least 10 to 15 minutes and seek medical advice.
Additional sources of information
UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS) - Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy
The information contained in this document from the UKHSA Radiation, Chemicals and Environment Directorate is correct at the time of its publication.
Email chemcompendium@ukhsa.gov.uk if you have any questions about this guidance or enquiries@ukhsa.gov.uk if you have any other questions.
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