Thorium Compounds - Dangers and Biological Roles

Dangers and Biological Roles

Powdered thorium metal is pyrophoric and will often ignite spontaneously in air. Natural thorium decays very slowly compared to many other radioactive materials, and the alpha radiation emitted cannot penetrate human skin meaning owning and handling small amounts of thorium, such as a gas mantle, is considered safe. Exposure to an aerosol of thorium, however, can lead to increased risk of cancers of the lung, pancreas, and blood, as lungs and other internal organs can be penetrated by alpha radiation. Exposure to thorium internally leads to increased risk of liver diseases. Thorium is radioactive and produces a radioactive gas, radon-220, as one of its decay products. Secondary decay products of thorium include radium and actinium. Because of this, there are concerns about the safety of thorium mantles. Some nuclear safety agencies make recommendations about their use. Production of gas mantles has led to some safety concerns during manufacture.

The element has no known biological role. Humans typically consume three micrograms per day of thorium. Of this, 99.98% does not remain in the body. Out of the thorium that does remain in the body, three quarters of it accumulates in the skeleton. A number of thorium compounds are chemically moderately toxic. People who work with thorium compounds are at a risk of dermatitis. Exposure to thorium over a long time can cause cancer. It can take as much as thirty years after the ingestion of thorium for symptoms to manifest themselves.