| QUESTIONS | ANSWERS |
|---|---|
| What is this chemical? | It is a lustrous, grey-white, strong metal that resembles titanium. |
| What is its purpose? | Zirconium is used as an alloying agent due to its high resistance to corrosion. It is never found as a native metal; it is obtained mainly from the mineral zircon, which can be purified by chlorine.
Zirconium has no known biological role. |
| Where is it found? |
|
HEALTH CONCERNS Is this chemical a carcinogen? No. How can it affect me? Zirconium has no known biological role, though zirconium salts are of low toxicity. The human body contains, on average, only 1 milligram of zirconium, and daily intake is approximately 50 μg per day. Most passes through the gut without being adsorbed, and that which is adsorbed tends to accumulate slightly more in the skeleton than in tissue.
Short-term exposure to zirconium powder can cause irritation, but only contact with the eyes requires medical attention. Inhalation of zirconium compounds can cause skin and lung granulomas. Zirconium aerosols can cause pulmonary granulomas.
Persistent exposure to zirconium tetrachloride resulted in increased mortality in rats and guinea pigs and a decrease of blood hemoglobin and red blood cells in dogs.
Are there controversial issues? No.
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