Evaluation of Workers Respiratory Encounters to Hydrogen Flouride White two Specific Electrode and Spectrophotometry ways in Esfahan UCF Industry

Introduction. Hydrogen fluoride is used in a wide range of industries such as glass making and silicon cleaning, manufacturing florescent lamps, ceramic objects, as catalyst for several different processes in the petroleum industry and in separation uranium isotopes.While the corrosive nature of HF is well-known, it can also inflict disorder like eye, nose, throat and mucus membranes irritation.The main purpose of this study was to determine HF in worker's breath and introducing an easy and cost effective method of HF analysis.Material and Methods. Having employed NIOSH 7902 method, 22 air samples were obtained from worker's breathing zones and compared to standards.Air samples were also analyzed with both spectrophotometery (using zirconium eriochrome cyanine R) and ion specific electrode method simultaneously. The results of analysis was then compared with each other.Results. The mean fluoride concentration in air samples from worker's breathing zone by ion specific electrode and spectrophotometery were 0.172 and 0.176 ppm. Comparing this to the standard level (3 ppm), a significant difference was emerged. (p<0.001) Mean of fluoride concentration, obtained from both methods of analysis were not significantly different.(p=0.55) Pearson correlation test indicated a strong, positive and direct correlation between results from both methods of analysis as well. (r = 0.994, p<0.001)Conclusion. The results of this study showed that mean comparison of fluoride concentration in air samples of worker's breathing zone is significantly less than standard level proposed by NIOSH(p<0.001). This confirms the fact that there are appropriate controlling measures present in the workplace.T paired comparison test displayed no significant between two methods of analysis, (p=0.55), which in other words shows no consistency between two applied methods.