Post by AlexwindIn realtà il NIOSH mi dice che, guardando il TWA, il fosgene
è più tossico dell'omologo fluorurato. E non di poco.
Già, è vero:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0504.html
Phosgene COCl2
TWA 0.1 ppm (0.4 mg/m^3)
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0108.html
Carbonyl fluoride (Fluorophosgene) COF2
TWA 2 ppm (5 mg/m^3)
Credo che abbia a che vedere con il suo meccanismo d'azione tossica.
Il fosgene si idrolizza debolmente e quindi ha tempo di reagire con
i gruppi amminici delle proteine (vedi sotto) mentre il fluorofosgene
si idrolizza molto rapidamente ( COF2 + H2O --> CO2 + 2 HF ) per cui
la sua tossicità dipenderebbe solo da quella dell'HF formatosi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosgene#Safety
Phosgene is an insidious poison as the odor may not be noticed
and symptoms may be slow to appear. Phosgene can be detected
at 0.4 ppm, which is four times the Threshold Limit Value.
Its high toxicity arises from the action of the phosgene
on the proteins in the pulmonary alveoli, which are the site
of gas exchange: their damage disrupts the blood-air barrier,
causing suffocation. It reacts with the amines of the proteins,
causing crosslinking via formation of urea-like linkages,
in accord with the reactions discussed above.
RNH2 + COCl2 --> RN=C=O + 2 HCl
COCl2 + 4 NH3 --> CO(NH2)2 + 2 NH4Cl
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/aegl/pubs/carbonyl_fluoride_interim.pdf
(pag. 13) 4.3. Structure Activity Relationships
Carbonyl fluoride is the fluorine analogue of phosgene (carbonyl
chloride). However, in contact with moisture, only a small amount
of phosgene hydrolyzes (NRC 2002), whereas, carbonyl fluoride is
"instantly hydrolyzed by water" (O'Neil et al. 2001). The primary
mechanism of action of phosgene is acylation resulting in lipid and
protein denaturation, irreversible membrane changes, and disruption
of enzymatic function. Death is caused by pulmonary edema following
a latency period of greater than or equal to 24 hours (NRC 2002).
The mechanism of action is unknown for carbonyl fluoride. A latency
period was not reported by DuPont (1976), but Scheel et al. (1968a)
reported that deaths usually occurred within 24 hours of exposure
with few latent deaths. In the DuPont (1976) study, a 4-hr exposure
to carbonyl fluoride in rats led to pulmonary consolidation and edema.
Scheel et al. (1968a) reported deep lung focal hemorrhage and edema
in rats exposed for 1 hr to carbonyl fluoride produced from poly-
tetrafluoroethylene pyrolysis.
Bye,
*GB*