7. ANALYTICAL METHODS

FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE2437. ANALYTICAL METHODSThe purpose of this chapter is to describe the analytical methods that are available for detecting,measuring, and/or monitoring fluorides, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine, its metabolites, and otherbiomarkers of exposure and effect to fluorides, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine. The intent is not toprovide an exhaustive list of analytical methods. Rather, the intention is to identify well-establishedmethods that are used as the standard methods of analysis. Many of the analytical methods used forenvironmental samples are the methods approved by federal agencies and organizations such as EPA andthe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Other methods presented in thischapter are those that are approved by groups such as the Association of Official Analytical Chemists(AOAC) and the American Public Health Association (APHA). Additionally, analytical methods areincluded that modify previously used methods to obtain lower detection limits and/or to improve accuracyand precision.Fluorine gas is too reactive to exist in biological or environmental samples. Indeed, fluorine is tooreactive to be analyzed directly by conventional methods, but rather is quantitatively converted tochlorine gas and the latter is analyzed (Shia 1994). The methods discussed below are for the analysis ofthe fluoride ion, or in the case of gaseous acid fluorides, hydrogen fluoride. The particular fluorinemolecule is rarely identified.7.1BIOLOGICAL MATERIALSTrace levels of fluoride in biological media are determined primarily by potentiometric (ion selectiveelectrode [ISE]) and gas chromatographic (GC) methods. Colorimetric methods are available, but aremore time consuming and lack the sensitivity of the other methods (Kakabadse et al. 1971;Venkateswarlu et al. 1971). Other methods that have been used include fluorometric, enzymatic, andproton activation analysis (Rudolph et al. 1973). The latter technique is sensitive to trace amounts ofsample and requires minimal sample preparation. Urine and blood and other bodily fluids can beanalyzed with a minimum of sample preparation. Tissue will require ashing, digestion with acid, or evenfusion with alkali to free the fluoride from its matrix. The most accurate method of sample preparation ismicrodiffusion techniques, such as the acid-hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) diffusion method by Taves(1968). These methods allows for the liberation of fluoride from organic or inorganic matrices (WHO2002). During sample preparation, the analyst must be careful to avoid sample contamination, incomplete

FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE2447. ANALYTICAL METHODSrelease from matrices, and losses due to volatilization (NRC Canada 1971). Vogel et al. (1990) reportedmethodologies for sample manipulation and fluoride analysis on very small sample volumes. Techniquesincluded micropipette procedures for transferring samples, preparation of micro fluoride-selectiveelectrodes, and methods for adapting standard electrodes for micro- and semi-micro volumes (0.005–5 µL). These techniques have been used for fluoride analysis of various biological samples, such assalvia, plaque, and tooth enamel (Vogel et al. 1990, 1992a, 1992b). Table 7-1 describes some analyticalmethods for determining fluorides in biological materials.There is extensive literature on the ISE methodology because it is the most frequently used method forfluoride measurement in biological media. The fluoride ion selective membrane utilizes a membraneconsisting of a slice of a single crystal of lanthanum fluoride that has been doped with europium (II)fluoride to improve its conductivity (Skoog et al. 1990). It has a theoretical response to changes influoride ion activity in the range of 100–10-6 M. It is selective to fluoride over other common anions byseveral orders of magnitude; only hydroxide ion causes serious interference. The pH of the solutionanalyzed is adjusted to approximately 5 to eliminate interference. ISE is the methodology recommendedby NIOSH in Method 8308 for the determination of fluoride in urine (NIOSH 1994). Fluoride analysesusing the ion selective electrode are simple, sensitive, and rapid. Recoveries are usually 90%, but this isdependent on the type of sample and the sample preparation required. Sample for ISE analysis must beprepared to solubilize the fluoride in the sample. For some samples, ashing or NaOH fusion is required.A total-ionic strength adjustment buffer (TISAB) is used to adjust samples and standards to the sameionic strength and pH; this allows the concentration, rather than the activity, to be measured directly andoften read directly off a meter. The pH of the buffer is about 5, a level at which F- is the predominantfluorine-containing species. The buffer contains cyclo-hexylene-dinitrilotetraacetic acid, which formsstable complexes with Fe(III) and Al(III), thus removing interferences by freeing fluoride ions fromcomplexes with these ions (NIOSH 1994; Schamschula et al. 1985; Tusl 1970). Bone fluoride levels canbe measured using the ISE technique after ashing of the sample (Boivin et al. 1988). Fingernail fluoridelevels can be measured using the ISE technique after nail clippings were prepared by HMDS-facilitateddiffusion overnight. This sample preparation was found to quantitatively remove fluoride from the nailmaterial (Whitford et al. 1999a). Whitford et al. (1999a) also reported that soaking the fingernail samplesin deionized water for 6 hours or in a solution of 1.0 ppm fluoride for 2 hours did not change theconcentration of fluoride found in the nail.Recent studies have employed GC to measure fluoride concentrations in human urine and plasma (Chibaet al. 1982; Ikenishi and Kitagawa 1988; Ikenishi et al. 1988). In this method, derivatization and

FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE2457. ANALYTICAL METHODSTable 7-1. Analytical Methods for Determining Fluoride in Biological MaterialsSample matrix Preparation methodSampleAnalytical detection Percentmethod limitrecovery ReferenceUrineExtract with TMCS; inject organicGCphase (microwave induced plasmaemission detector)Add equal volume TISAB solution ISE,NIOSH8308Add TMCS toluene solution;GCcentrifuge; inject toluene layerBiological fluids Absorb with calcium phosphate;ISEand tissue ex- centrifuge; analyzetracts (ionic andionizablefluoride)SalivaResuspend in TISAB buffer; analyze ISEBiological fluids Add TMCS toluene solution; centrifuge; inject toluene layer andanalyze by measuring TMFS peakheightBiologicalExtraction from acidified sample astissues andfluorosilane; reverse extraction asfluidsfluoride ion into alkaline solutionBiologicaltissuesTooth enamelGCSample pulverized to fine powder;irradiate with energetic beam ofprotons; detect gamma rays emittedDecomposition of sample at 700– Colori1,000 C (pyrohydrolytic technique) metrySoak teeth; decalcify in HClO4; add ISETISAB; analyzeDried; microdiffusion; analyzeBoneAsh sample; dissolve in perchloric ISEacid; add 1,2-cyclohexylenedinitrotetraacetic acidWash in diethylether; dry; deISEcompose in NaOHHMDS-facilitated diffusion overnight ISEFingernail9350.1 mg/L 95%Chiba et al. 1982NIOSH 1994 5 ng/mL No data Ikenishi et al. 198810 µg/L92–102% Venkateswarlu etal. 1971No data99.8%5 ng/L88.1–97.2%Petersson et al.1987; Schamschulaet al. 1985Ikenishi et al. 1988ISE with 0.04 ng/ No data Venkateswarluhanging sample1974dropassemblyPAA 10 ng/ No data Rudolph et al. 1973samplePlaqueHair/fingernail4 µg/LISE1 µg/sam No data Kakabadse et al.ple1971No data No data Schamschula et al.1982; Shida et al.1986No data 97%Schamschula et al.1985No data No data Boivin et al. 1988No dataNo data94–96% Schamschula et al.1985No data Whitford et al.1999aGC gas chromatography; HClO4 perchloric acid; HMDS hexamethyldisiloxane; ISE ion selective electrode;NaOH sodium hydroxide; NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; PAA proton activationanalysis; TISAB total ionic strength activity buffer; TMCS trimethylchlorosilane; TMFS trimethylfluorosilane

FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND FLUORINE2467. ANALYTICAL METHODSextraction is achieved using trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) in toluene to produce trimethylfluorosilane(TMFS). The organic layer is injected into the GC system and the TMFS peak height is compared withthose of standard solutions. The GC method has the advantage of high sensitivity—nanogram quantitiesof fluoride are detectable in a milliliter of urine or plasma. This method is also useful for assessing thefluoride released from fluorine-containing drugs in biological fluids. The detection of bound fluorineprovides an advantage over the ISE technique, which is not suitable for bound or organic fluoridemeasurements. It should also be noted that the aluminum ion may cause interference under the operatingconditions of the GC, as it does with the ISE method.7.2ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLESThe ISE method is the most widely used method for determining fluoride levels in the environmentalmedia. Table 7-2 describes this and other methods for determining fluoride in environmental samples.Table 7-3 describes methods for determining hydrogen fluoride in air. ISE methods are simple to performand have good precision and sensitivity. Fluoride-specific electrodes are commercially available. Themethod detects only free fluoride ions in solution. Because of the inherent restriction of this technique,several approaches have been recommended to prepare the sample for analysis. Lopez and Navia (1988)assayed total fluoride (bound and free) in food and beverages by initially acid hydrolyzing samples at100 C in borosilicate vials. This closed-system approach decreases contamination, eliminates dryashing, and yields high recoveries. Dabeka and McKenzie (1981) employed microdiffusion with 40%perchloric acid to food samples in Petri dishes at 60 C for 24–48 hours. Difficulties arose in controllingcontamination and fluoride loss in the Petri dishes, and low recoveries were reported. Preparation of totalfluoride in dry plant material (i.e., hay, barley, straw, corn, grass) was described by Eyde (1982); sampleswere fused in nickel crucibles with sodium hydroxide at 350–475 C. The ash was diluted and filtered foranalysis. This method is more tedious than the others, and fluoride loss is expected from the high fusiontemperatures. All of these preparatory techniques can liberate bound fluoride from the sample matrices.It is important to prevent interference of other ions and to avoid fluoride loss at high decompositiontemperatures before potentiometric analyses. Kakabadse et al. (1971) described a pyrohydrolytictechnique for tea, coca, or tobacco samples that could be employed prior to colorimetric or ISE analysis.Decomposition of the sample at 700–1,000 C is mediated by a current of air or pure oxygen to evolvehydrogen fluoride. An advantage of this approach is that fluoride is collected from inorganic and organicfluorides in one operation. Ashing, which may produce loss of organic fluorine, is eliminated.