Zinc hexafluorosilicate

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

No animal studies have been performed on zinc hexafluorosilicate due to the corrosivity of the substance. Human data on intoxication with zinc hexafluorosilicate is presented and displays typical symptoms of fluoride intoxication.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

other: case studies

Limit test:

no

Species:

other: human

Sex:

female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

51-year-old female, additionally 21 cases (7 children, 14 adults) in case series

Route of administration:

oral: drinking water

Details on oral exposure:

51-year-old female: 50 mL solution with an unknown amount of VogelFluat

Control animals:

no

Key result

Sex:

female

Dose descriptor:

LD100

Based on:

not specified

Remarks on result:

not determinable

Mortality:

100%

Clinical signs:

other: unconsciousness, cardiovascular shock, and respiratory depression

Conclusions:

Clinical presentation and treatment of poisoning with zinc hexafluorosilicate correspond to sodium fluoride.

Executive summary:

Case report: A 51-year-old woman ingested about 50 ml solution with an unknown amount of VogelFluat®. She was admitted to hospital two hours later with unconsciousness, cardiovascular shock, and respiratory depression. Cardiac monitoring showed irregular rhythm with atrioventricular block turning into ventricular fibrillation about four hours after ingestion. Oesophagogastroscopy confirmed the burn of distal oesophagial and gastric mucosa with discolouration to black. Cornea was also burned by ascending vapours at the moment of drinking. Chest X-ray was without pathologic findings. Laboratory findings proved metabolic acidosis (serum pH 7.0; serum bicarbonate 8 mmol/L), and hypocalcaemia (0.3 mmol/L). Calcium gluconate was given but the serum calcium level couldn't be stabilised. Resuscitative measures were done over three hours without success.

Case series: From 1994 to 2003 our poison centre recorded 21 cases (7 children, 14 adults) of zinc hexafluorosilicate exposures. Majority of cases (81%) was accidental with small amounts without symptoms. A 2-year-old child suffered from metabolic acidosis, hypocalcaemia, hyperglycaemia ( 18.0 mmoi/L), ventricular fibrillation, and seizures after ingestion of "washing powder" but survived. Mistakes without dangerous consequences (use instead of curing agent and salt for icy roads, respectively) were reported twice. In two cases the ingestion was suicidal with fatality. Conclusion: Clinical presentation and treatment of poisoning with zinc hexafluorosilicate correspond to sodium fluoride. Death has been reported in adults after ingestion of 1-2 g after 3-4 hours as result of cardiac fibrillation. The prognosis of severe suicidal poisoning is unfavourable.

References: Krämer M, Giebelmann R. Tödli che Intoxikationen mit Zinkhexafluosilikat. Dt Gesundh.-Wesen 1975; 30:2057-2059.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Method not applicable, case study.

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

other: case study

Limit test:

no

Species:

other: human

Sex:

female

Route of administration:

oral: unspecified

Vehicle:

water

Doses:

30 mL

Key result

Sex:

female

Dose descriptor:

other: 30 mL

Mortality:

Case study of suicide, person died.

Clinical signs:

other: hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and low magnesium levels

Conclusions:

Intoxication with of a zinc hexafluorosilicate solution displays typcial symptoms of hydrogen fluoride intoxication.

Executive summary:

Intoxication with hydrofluoric acid is a rare but mostly lethal clinical condition. We report on a female who swallowed approximalely 30 ml of Hexafluorosilicate (Hydrofluoric acid) (comment: The publication itself is in german. The german text states zinc hexafluorosilicate as the ingested substance.) during an attempt t0 commit suicide. The woman was found somnolent in a condition of circulatory shock. She had to be incubated and was admitted to hospital. Laboratory investigations showed severe electrolyte disturbances (hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and low magnesium levels) as well as severe metabolic acidosis. Within the next few hours, a disseminated intravascular coagulation developed. Serum fluoride levels were 1.98 mg/L (normal values < 0.03 mg/L). Although the electrolyte abnormalities had been corrected, the clinical condition worsened. The patient had to be defibrillated due to ventricular fibrillation about 30 times. Over time, these episodes of ventricular fibrillation became less responsive to defibrillation. After 12 h, the patient died under cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to cardiogenic shock. On autopsy, severe mucosal burns were found and hyperemic lesions were seen in the renal tubular system as well as necrotic lesions in the cardiac musculature. Besides the poor prognosis of a fluoride intoxication in this dosis, the long time interval until treatment could be started, seems to be one of the main reasons for the fatal outcome of this case.

Reference 3

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

the study does not need to be conducted because the substance is classified as corrosive to the skin

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Justification for classification or non-classification

Intoxication with of a zinc hexafluorosilicate solution displays typcial symptoms of hydrogen fluoride intoxication. Because no studys on zinc hexafluorosilicate are available to derive a theshold, the harmonised classification of parent inorganic hexafluorosilicate salts is adopted.