A fluorine leak was reported in the cargo area of Lucknow airport on Saturday. According to the fire department, the leak occurred in Terminal 3 of Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.
The fire brigade rushed to the scene of the accident together with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDR).
Firefighters said the leak came from a package of a medicine that contained fluorine. “Efforts are underway to identify and control the situation,” they added.
A fluorine leak in particular can have serious and potentially dangerous consequences due to the highly reactive and toxic nature of the gas.
These are the effects and risks of a fluorine leak:
Respiratory problems: Inhalation of fluorine gas may cause severe respiratory irritation, induce coughing and cause difficulty breathing. Exposure to high concentrations may result in pulmonary edema, a critical condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the lungs that can be fatal.
Chemical burns: Fluorine is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Contact with fluorine can cause severe burns and long-term damage.
Systemic toxicity: Inhalation of or contact with high concentrations of fluorine may cause systemic toxicity. This condition may affect various organs and cause damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system.
Soil and water pollution: When fluorine gas enters the environment, it can react with water and other substances to form harmful compounds such as hydrofluoric acid (HF). These can contaminate soil and water and damage plants and aquatic ecosystems.
Damage to vegetation: Fluorine can be toxic to plants and can cause damage or kill vegetation in the area surrounding the leak, potentially affecting local ecosystems and biodiversity.
Fire and explosion hazards: Fluorine is highly reactive and can react violently with many substances, including organic materials and metals. This can create a fire or explosion hazard, especially if the leak occurs in an industrial setting.
