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Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 13:27:38 -0600
To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Jerry J Bromenshenk <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Hydrofluoric Acid as a sterilant
 
>Does anybody have any comments on the effectiveness (of hydrofluoric
>acid) or specific dangers and risks to humans or to bees or bee
>products before I formulate a reply to this magazine?
 
Yikes!  Geologists use hydrofluoric acid to break down rocks.  We once
picked up elevated levels of fluoride in the bees themselves, when their
hives were placed on a roof top of a laboratory building.  The HF fumes
coming up the fume hood vent got into the hives and was affecting the bees.
 This is a very caustic acid - potentially harmful to both humans and bees.
 
Cheers
 
Jerry J. Bromenshenk
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http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees