Efficacy of hexafluorine for emergent decontamination of hydrofluoric acid eye and skin splashes.

Hexafluorine is an amphoteric, hypertonic, polyvalent compound for decontaminating hydrofluoric acid (HF) eye and skin splashes. In a German metallurgy facility during the period of 1994-1998, all eye or skin splashes with 40% HF alone or with a 6% HF/15% HNO3 mixture were initially decontaminated with Hexafluorine within 2 min following the splash at the accident site by the victims themselves or co-workers who witnessed the accident. Eleven workers using 40% HF or a 6% HF/15% HNO3 mixture sustained eye (2 cases) or skin (10 cases) splashes (1 combined) during 1994-1998. Hexafluorine was used within 2 min, and a second Hexafluorine decontamination was done on arrival at the plant infirmary. No further medical or surgical treatment was needed, no workers developed chemical burns, and none lost work time. These II cases demonstrate the efficacy of Hexafluorine in decontaminating HF or combined HF/HNO3 splashes.