Fluorine

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Published peer-reviewed study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Toxicity of fluorine short-term inhalation

Author:

Keplinger ML and Suissa LW

Year:

1968

Bibliographic source:

Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 29:10-18

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 403 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

Short exposure time (max. 60 min.)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test type:

other: non-standard method

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Fluorine

EC Number:

231-954-8

EC Name:

Fluorine

Cas Number:

7782-41-4

Molecular formula:

F2

IUPAC Name:

fluorine

Test material form:

gas

Details on test material:

No further information.

Test animals

Species:

other: Rats, Mice, Guinea Pig, Rabbit

Strain:

other: Osborne-Mendel, Swiss-Webster, New England, New Zealand White

Sex:

not specified

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: gas

Type of inhalation exposure:

whole body

Vehicle:

air

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

yes

Remarks on duration:

Rats and mice: 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes of exposure Guinea pigs: 15 and 60 minutes of exposure Rabbits: 5 and 30 minutes of exposure

Concentrations:

Rat: 14 - 500 ppm
Mouse: 16 - 467 ppm
Guinea pig: 70 - 198 ppm
Rabbit: 19 - 410 ppmn

No. of animals per sex per dose:

10 rats or mice per dose group
5 guinea pigs or rabbits per group

Control animals:

not specified

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Sex:

not specified

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect level:

185 ppm

Based on:

test mat.

Exp. duration:

60 min

Remarks on result:

other: Rat

Any other information on results incl. tables

LC50 values were calculated for the different species at different exposure times. A summary of LC50 data (ppm) is given in the following Table:

Exposure Time	Rat	Mouse	Guinea Pig	Rabbit
5 min	700	600	-	820
15 min	390	375	395	-
30 min	270	225	-	270
60 min	185	150	170	-

 - : no data available

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:

Category 1 based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

The 60 minute LC50 values for rats and mice exposed to fluorine are 185 ppm and 150 ppm respectively.

Executive summary:

Fluorine toxicity has been investigated in Osborne-Mendel rats, Swiss-Webster mice, New England guinea pigs, and New Zealand rabbits. Similar values for the LC50 were calculated for the different species. In rats, the LC50 values for exposures of 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes were 700, 390, 270, and 185 ppm, respectively. At concentrations near the LC50, few signs of intoxication were observed immediately after exposure, except for irritation of the eyes and nose. Several hours after exposure, the animals exhibited lethargy, dyspnea, and general weakness. Except at concentrations above the LC90, death generally occurred 12–18 hours after exposure. Animals that survived for 48 hours generally survived for the duration of the observation period. Loss of body weight was also observed, but was considered nonspecific and was attributed to anorexia.