Hydrogen fluoride and inorganic fluorine compounds (fluorides) – Addendum: Evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value
Assessment Values in Biological Material – Translation of the German version from 2023
Sandra Michaelsen1Gerlinde Schriever-Schwemmer1 (Head of the working group “Developmental Toxicity” of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
Hans Drexler2 (Head of the working group “Assessment Values in Biological Material” of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
Andrea Hartwig1 (Chair of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
MAK Commission3
1 Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
2 Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9–11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
3 Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany
Abstract
In 2005, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of hydrogen fluoride [7664-39-3] and fluorides [16984-48-8]. If the MAK values of 1 ml hydrogen fluoride/m3 (0.83 mg/m3) or 1 mg fluoride/m3, respectively, are not exceeded, prenatal toxic effects are not to be expected. Therefore, hydrogen fluoride and fluorides were classified in Pregnancy Risk Group C. In 2013, the biological tolerance value (BAT value) for hydrogen fluoride and inorganic fluorine compounds (fluorides) of 4 mg fluoride/l urine was established which protects against the long-term effects of fluoride such as skeletal fluorosis. The BAT value was not derived in correlation to the MAK value. For this reason, it is to be evaluated whether no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected when the BAT value is adhered to. By extrapolating the NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for developmental toxicity in rodent studies to fluoride concentrations in urine it could be concluded that Pregnancy Risk Group C is also valid for the BAT value.
