| April 2002 |
| ToxFAQs™ |
| for |
| Selenium Hexafluoride |
| (Hexafluoruro
de Selenio) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about selenium hexafluoride. For more
information, you may call the ATSDR Information Center at
1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries
about hazardous substances and their health effects. This
information is important because this substance may harm you.
The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend
on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits
and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.
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| HIGHLIGHTS: Selenium hexafluoride
is a corrosive gas. Significant exposure may occur only
if you work with selenium hexafluoride. It is unlikely
that the general population will be exposed to this substance.
Exposure to selenium hexafluoride can cause irritation
of the respiratory airway, skin and eyes. Exposure to
high levels can cause severe skin and eye damage and accumulation
of fluid in the lungs, and even death. Selenium hexafluoride
has not been found in any of the 1,585 National Priorities
List sites identified by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). |
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| What
is selenium hexafluoride? |
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Selenium hexafluoride is a corrosive,
colorless gas at room temperature. Selenium hexafluoride is
only slightly soluble in water. It does not occur naturally
in the environment.
Selenium hexafluoride is used as a gaseous
electrical insulator.
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| What
happens to selenium hexaflouride when it enters the environment? |
- When released to air, selenium hexafluoride will react
with moisture, forming other compounds which are removed
from the atmosphere by rainfall.
- Selenium hexafluoride is slightly soluble in water. It
reacts slowly with water to form other compounds. It may
also evaporate from water.
- Selenium hexafluoride is slightly soluble in water. It
reacts slowly with water to form other compounds. It may
also evaporate from water.
- Selenium hexafluoride does not accumulate in the food
chain.
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| How
might I be exposed to selenium hexaflouride? |
- The general population is unlikely to be exposed to selenium
hexafluoride.
- Workers that use selenium hexafluoride as a gaseous electric
insulator or use selenium hexafluoride to produce other
selenium containing compounds may be exposed to this gas.
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| How
can selenium hexaflouride affect my health? |
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Exposure to low levels of selenium hexafluoride
gas can cause irritation of the respiratory airway, skin,
and eye. Exposure to high levels can lead to severe skin and
eye damage, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, and eventually
death.
Exposure to the liquified gas can cause
severe skin injury or frostbite and also severe eye damage
and blindness.
Long-term exposure to low concentrations
of selenium hexafluoride may cause effects similar to exposure
to other selenium or fluoride compounds, such as pale appearance,
nervousness, depression, gastrointestinal problems, lack of
appetite, weight loss, and dental defects.
There is no information on whether exposure
to selenium hexafluoride may affect the reproductive system
in humans or in animals.
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| How
likely is selenium hexaflouride to cause cancer? |
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The Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),
and the EPA have not classified selenium hexafluoride as to
its carcinogenicity to humans. There are no studies of carcinogenity
of selenium hexafluoride in animals.
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| How
does selenium hexaflouride affect children? |
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There are no studies on the health effects
of children exposed to selenium hexafluoride. It is likely
that the health effects seen in children exposed to this chemical
will be similar to the effects seen in adults. In general,
children may be more vulnerable to corrosive agents because
of the smaller diameter of their airways.
We do not know if exposure to selenium
hexafluoride will result in birth defects or other developmental
effects in people. There are no developmental studies in laboratory
animals.
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| How
can families reduce the risk of exposure to selenium hexaflouride? |
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Most families will not be exposed to
selenium hexafluoride.
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| Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to selenium
hexaflouride? |
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There are no tests to determine whether
you have been exposed to selenium hexafluoride. If you suspect
exposure, a chest x-ray be an appropriate way to determine
whether your lungs have been damaged.
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| Has
the federal government made recommendations to protect human
health? |
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has set an exposure limit of 0.05 parts of selenium
hexafluoride per million parts of workroom air (0.05 ppm)
for an 8-hour work shift, 40 hour work week.
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| References |
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 2002. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents.
Volume III – Medical Management Guidelines for Acute
Chemical Exposures: Selenium Hexafluoride. Atlanta, GA: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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| Where can I get
more information? |
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ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns.
For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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