| Types |
Characteristics |
Uses |
Effects |
| Radium
(Ra) |
| - |
silvery
white
radioactive
material |
|
| - |
radiation
source for
treating
neoplastic
disease |
| - |
radon
source in
radiography of
metals |
| - |
neutron
source for
research |
|
| - |
exposure
via inhalation
has resulted in
acute leucopoenia |
| - |
oral
exposure has
resulted in
anemia, necrosis
of the jaw,
abscess of the
brain and
terminal bronchopneumonia |
| - |
via
oral exposure is
known to cause
lung, bone,
brain and nasal
passage tumors |
|
| Radon
(Rn) |
| - |
colorless,
odorless,
tasteless
radioactive
noble gas |
| - |
special
hazard:
radioactive |
|
| - |
cancer
treatment |
| - |
earthquake
prediction |
| - |
experimental
studies |
|
| - |
health
threat in homes
built on granite |
| - |
smokers
exposed are at
greater risk of
lung cancer |
| - |
exposure
via inhalation
has resulted
respiratory
effects (chronic
lung disease,
pneumonia,
fibrosis of the
lung) |
| - |
animal
studies have
reported effects
on the blood and
a decrease in
body weight |
|
| Uranium
(U) |
| - |
very
heavy silvery
white
radioactive
metal |
| - |
combustible
solid |
| - |
special
hazard:
radioactive |
| - |
routes
of exposure:
inhalation,
ingestion, skin
and/or eye
contact |
| - |
target
organs: skin,
kidneys, bone
marrow,
lymphatic system |
|
| - |
pigments
for glass |
| - |
fuel
in nuclear
reactors and
nuclear bombs |
| - |
depleted
uranium: casings
of armour
piercing
arterial shells,
armour plating
on tanks and as
ballast in the
wings of some
large aircrafts |
|
| - |
uranium
miners have
shown an
increase in lung
cancer and
tumors of the
lymphatic and
hematopoietic
tissues from
inhalation
exposure |
| - |
increase
of deaths of non
malignant
respiratory
disease |
|
| Plutonium
(Pu) |
| - |
artificially
created
radioactive
metal |
| - |
made
by bombarding
uranium with
neutrons |
|
| - |
used
in bombs and
reactors |
|
| - |
carcinogenic
which promotes
cancer
development |
| - |
mutation
to body tissues
and cells |
| - |
disruption
to normal fetal
development |
|
| Types |
Characteristics |
Uses |
Effects |
| Lead
(Pb) |
| - |
metallic
and cubic
close-packed |
| - |
soft
bluish white
metal |
| - |
non
combustible
solid (except as
dust) |
| - |
routes
of exposure:
inhalation,
ingestion, skin
and/or eye
contact |
| - |
target
organs:
gastrointestinal
tract, central
nervous system,
kidneys, blood
and gingival
tissue |
|
| - |
protective
shield from
radioactivity |
| - |
lead
acid accumulator |
| - |
manufacture
antiknock, tetraethyl lead
Pb(C2H5)4
in
petrol |
| - |
pigments
e.g.,
white basic lead
carbonate,
Pb(OH)2
orange
pigment ‘red
lead’,
Pb3O4 |
|
| - |
mental
retardation
among
children
exposed
to lead
in water
resulting
from lead
pipes
and
solders in
older
water
systems |
| - |
exhibit
weakness,
general
disability,
nervous
disorders
and
eventual
death |
|
| Mercury
(Hg) |
| - |
silver
coloured liquid
transition metal |
| - |
non-combustible
liquid |
| - |
routes
of exposure:
inhalation, skin
absorption,
ingestion, skin
and/or eye
contact |
| - |
target
organs: eyes,
skin,
respiratory
system, central
nervous system,
kidneys |
|
| - |
electrodes
in the
amalgamation of
electrolysis of
brine |
| - |
thermometers |
| - |
barometers |
| - |
fluorescent
lamps |
|
| - |
carcinogenic,
typically cause
cancer or are
mutagenic |
| - |
cause
for kidney
damage |
| - |
cause
for neurological
disorder |
| - |
cause
for blindness |
| - |
associated
with birth
defects |
| - |
damaging
to aquatic life |
|
| Arsenic
(As) |
| - |
metalloid
and gray brittle
non-metal flake |
| - |
routes
of exposure:
inhalation,
ingestion, skin
and/or eye
contact. |
| - |
target
organs: skin,
respiratory
system, kidneys,
central nervous
system, liver,
gastrointestinal
tract,
reproductive
system |
|
| - |
deadly
poison in
shotgun pellets |
| - |
metal
for mirrors |
| - |
glass |
| - |
lasers |
| - |
light
emitting diodes
(LED) |
| - |
semiconductors |
|
| - |
carcinogenic |
| - |
associated
with lung cancer |
| - |
results
in skin cancer |
| - |
damage
to intestines
and liver, as it
is found in
pesticides, wood
preservatives
and naturally
occurring in
many household
products |
| - |
toxic
when ingested |
|
| Cadmium
(Cd) |
| - |
silvery
white transition
metal |
| - |
non-combustible
solid (except as
dust) |
| - |
route
of exposure:
inhalation,
ingestion |
|
target
organs:
respiratory
system, kidneys,
blood, prostate |
|
| - |
nickel-cadmium
batteries |
| - |
nuclear
reactor
regulator |
| - |
red/yellow
pigments |
|
|
