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MD asks skin toxicity of ammonium bifluoride

I have a patient who states he works with ammonium bifluoride overhead, and sometimes liquid hits top of is head, which he feels is the cause of a patch hair loss. I would appreciate information on skin toxicity of this compound, thank you.

Michael K Rees, Maryland
physician - Brookline, Massachusetts
2003

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I can't really say whether ammonium bifluoride could cause patch hair loss. But this is an industrial chemical, exposure to which is a very serious potential problem, and which absolutely should not be dripping on him! In fact, it is so surprising that it could be dripping on him that we would have considered your inquiry a possible hoax were it not for your IP address showing it to be genuine.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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Dear Dr Rees,

You can find the information required on the following pdf file: www.astrochemicals.com/18018.pdf

Nigel D Gill, B.Sc. MIMF AIEMA MRSC
- Blantyre, Glasgow, Scotland
2003

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2003

Ammonium bifluoride is very nasty stuff and has an OSHA PEL of 3mg/m3. It is corrosive and can induce cardiac and nervous disorders; furthermore it can cause bone and dental fluorosis. Contact with the skin can result in severe burns that will not heal well and hypocalcemia. The best source I know for toxicological data is Sax, but if you don't have access to that, try your local hospital's toxicology department.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK