(Sodium Aluminum Fluoride)

A little background

The cryolite residue of toxicological concern is fluoride. Even though cryolite has been used as an insecticide in the US since the 1950s, the quality of data and public information that has been reported by the US EPA has been very poor, with the exception of its 2011 review. Cryolite was found in large quantities on the west coast of Greenland but now it’s rare and synthetic sodium aluminum fluoride is now used.

Reports:

2011 – Cryolite. Human Health Risk Assessment Scoping Document in Support of Registration Review. US EPA. March 16.

2011 – Cryolite Summary Document. Registration Review: Initial Docket. US EPA. March.

2011 – Addendum. Registration Review – Preliminary Problem Formulation for the Ecological Risk and Drinking Water Exposure Assessments for Cryolite. US EPA. October 5.

2010 – BEAD chemical profile for registration review: Cryolite. US EPA. November 10.

2010 – Cryolite – Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA). June 21.

1996 – Cryolite – Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED). Report EPA-738-R-96-016. US EPA.

1995 – Summary of Toxicological Data. California EPA, Department of Pesticide Regulation.

1983. Cryolite Chemical Fact Sheet. Cornell Univeristy PMEP.

2004 – Solvay Fluorides submission to US EPA: Solvay Fluorides – TSCA Section 8(e) – Sodium Hexafluoroaluminate (CAS No. 13775-54-6 – 90 Day Repeat Dose Inhalation Study in Rats (snout only exposure).

FAN’S submissions to US EPA:

February, 2012 – Comments on the U.S. EPA’s Amended Cryolite Final Work Plan Registration Review.

July 2011 – Comments on the U.S. EPA’s Registration Review for Cryolite.

May 2002 – Comments on Gowan Company’s petition for new, modified, and proposed tolerances.

WINE:

California grape growers use cryolite to control two insects that can devastate vineyards. Researchers from California State University in Fresno conducted a 5 year study (1990-1994) on vineyards throughout the San Joaquin Valley. They found that “[m]ultiple applications of Cryolite during the growing season significantly increase fluoride in wines.” Notably they found fluoride levels between 3 – 6 ppm in Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Thompson Seedless, Barbera, Muscat Candi, Ruby Cabernet; and levels between 6 – <9 ppm in French Colombard and Zinfandel. They noted “that fluoride levels in wine produced from grapes not treated with Cryolite can range from 0.1 to 1.6 ppm, depending upon location and variety (Ostrom).” At 6 ppm one glass of wine (175 ml) would have delivered as much fluoride as about a liter of optimally fluoridated water!

In the 1990’s a 3 ppm fluoride limit was in effect for US wines exported to European Communities. However, around 1999-2000m the EU lowered the allowable levels of fluoride in wine to 1 ppm. (Note: the vast majority of EU countries do not fluoridate their water). Responding to the potential loss of a $250 million export market, California received a time-limited residue tolerance for Tebufenozide on grapes as an alternative to cryolite. As stated in EPA’s approval:

…”for the 2000 crop year, nearly all major California wineries with export markets have advised their growers that they will not accept grapes which have been treated with cryolite or any other product which would affect the level of fluorides in wines. There is a direct correlation between even limited use of cryolite on wine grapes which can result in fluoride levels in wine above 3 ppm (Federal Register, July 2000).”

Also see:
2000 – European Community Establishes a Tolerance of 1 ppm for Fluoride Residue in Wine.
Undated – Kryocide® Advisory on Use of Cryolite to Control Insects on Grapes.
Undated – The Effect of Application and Timing of Kryocide on Fluoride Levels in Wines.

Cryolite Registration Review Docket; Extension of Comment Period.

•  Cryolite. Elf Atochem’s contaminated site in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania

Pesticide Action has this latest use information:

Published in 1932:  Massive Fluorosis of Bones and Ligaments by PF Moller and SV Gudjonsson. Acta Radiologica, 13:269-294.

The authors record the results of their clinical examination of 78 workers engaged in the crushing and refining of cryolite. Beside silicosis (to as much as the second degree) which was present in 39, the following three diseases were found to be common in these workers:

• 1) A curious sclerotic affection of bones, ligaments, and muscular attachments, probably due to the deposition of calcium-fluoride (7789755) in the bones (The authors believe that the occurrence of this disease in man has not been described before. It was found in 30 of the workers examined.);

• 2) an acutely arising and acutely revolving affection of the stomach, supposedly due to a slight corrosion of the mucous lining of that organ, owing to some of the fluorine (7782414) contained in the swallowed cryolite-dust being changed by the hydrochloric-acid (7647010) of the stomach into hydrofluorine; and

• 3) a pronounced oligemia, found in 11 of the 30 workers in whom pathological changes in the bones were observed.

These changes in the bones are described in detail, and the causes of their occurrence, as well as that of the other symptoms, and the connection of these with the fluorine contained in the cryolite, are discussed. The results of the investigation are compared with those of an investigation made of 21 other workers from industries where fluorine and materials containing fluorine are used. Also animal experiments with experimental feeding with cryolite are spoken of, but a more detailed description of these is reserved for a future communication.

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