Please re-post this message!!
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Holbrook <[log in to unmask]>
To: Bee ListServe <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, August 21, 1998 12:15 AM
Subject: RE: White Wax: Acids!!
 
 
>Howdy!
>
>        Just a note on the acid types mentioned here.  James Max Peterson
>was correct when he wrote "Phosphoric Acid is used in soft drinks to give
>them a tart taste.  It will burn the skin if left on in concentrated form.
>Hydrofluoric Acid will dissolve bone if left on the skin."
>
>        I just wanted to point out that Hydrofluoric Acid, commonly
referred
>to as HF by those who use it, is extremely dangerous.  It is highly
unlikely
>that most folks will ever see it.  It is commonly used by the glass
industry
>to etch glass to reduce surface flaws that may induce stress points and to
>frost glass, as it dissolves glass rather easily.  The reason that it is so
>dangerous is that it can be quite deceptive.  It may not cause your skin to
>have a burning sensation until well after you have been exposed to it.  You
>may think that you got some water on you, at least for a while.    This
>gives it time to start to go to work on your bone before you even realize
>what has happened.  Once it gets into your system it reacts with calcium,
>stealing it from every available source, specifically bone, muscle and even
>neurons.  It is so powerful that a five square inch skin exposure is very
>likely to be fatal.  Death is usually caused by heart failure as the
calcium
>required for muscle contraction (heart beat) is consumed by the HF.  Even
if
>death is not the end result, any exposure is likely to be a painful event.
>After a time, depending on concentration (molarity) the burning will begin.
>When it gets to the bone it will make you think that your bones are being
>cracked open by a nutcracker.  That description was provided by a survivor
>of an HF exposure!  You will get many injections of sodium gluconate around
>the effected bone.  Morphine is usually required to control pain.  Seizures
>will occur.  Muscle control and nerves in the exposure area are likely to
be
>irreparably damaged.
>
>        Sorry to be so wordy but I want all to know the dangers of HF.
Don't
>use it!!  In the rare instance that someone does get a hold of a quantity
of
>HF, I want them to know enough so that they just don't use it.  We use it
>where I work every day.  It is treated as the most dangerous stuff in the
>plant.  It is!  A single pinhole in a rubber glove will ruin your life.
>Please do not use Hydrofluoric Acid for anything.
>
>Thanks for listening!
>