Hydrofluoric acid is a very strong inorganic acid. This article discusses poisoning from swallowing, breathing in, or touching hydrofluoric acid.

Hydrofluoric acid

This acid is most commonly used for industrial purposes. It is used in:

• Glass etching
• Computer screens manufacturing
• Fluorescent bulbs
• High octane gasoline manufacturing
• Certain household rust removers

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

From swallowing:

• Severe pain in the mouth
• Fever
• Inability to breathe as the throat swells shut
• Severe throat pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Rapid drop in blood pressure
• Ventricular fibrillation

From breathing in (inhaling) the acid:

• Chills
• Fever
• Tight chest
• Coughing
• Fluid in the lungs
• Choking
• Bluish colored lips and fingernails

From touching the acid:

• Very painful skin burning

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

Immediately take the person to the hospital.

Determine the following information:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• The time it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed

If you suspect possible poisoning, seek emergency medical care immediately.

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate.

Specific treatment depends on how the poisoning occurred.

If the person swallowed the poison, treatment may include:

• A tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
• Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
• Endotracheal intubation to prevent the windpipe from swelling shut due to burns
• Magnesium and calcium solutions to neutralize the acid
• Pain medicines

If the person touched the poison, he or she will be monitored and treated for signs of body-wide poisoning. Treatment may include:

• Rinsing and cleaning of wound area
• Magnesium and calcium solutions applied to skin to neutralize the acid (solutions may also be given through an IV)
• Pain medicines

If the person breathed in the poison, treatment may include:

• Breathing tube for severe injuries
• Breathing treatments that deliver calcium into your lungs. Pain medicines

Hydroflouric acid is especially dangerous. The most common accidents occur with hydroflouric acid causing severe burns on the skins and hands. The burns may be extremely painful. Patients will have a lot of scarring and some loss of function of the area involved.

Persons who swallow hydroflouric acid can have a lot of damage to the inside organs, which can lead to a painful death.

Chemical Emergencies: Case Definition: Hydrofluoric Acid. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2005.

Seamens CM, Seger DL, Meredith T. Hydrofluoric acid. In: Ford MD, Delaney KA, Ling LJ, Erickson T, eds. Clinical toxicology. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2001:1019-26.