| Agent Name |
Cesium |
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| CAS Number |
7440-46-2 |
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| Formula |
Cs |
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| Major Category |
Metals |
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| Synonyms |
Cesium; Cesium-133; UN1407 [ChemIDplus] |
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| Category |
Elements, Metallic |
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| Description |
Shiny crystals or silver metal; [Sax] Stored immersed in mineral oil; [Merck Index] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in photoelectric cells, photoemitter devices, scintillation counters, and an atomic clock; Also used in metallurgy to absorb gases and impurities and to dope catalysts; Cs-133 is the stable, naturally occurring isotope; Mineral sources are pollucite, lepidolite and rhodizite; Cs-137 is the radioactive isotope produced by atomic fission; [Merck Index, 2008] Cesium is released into the environment in pollucite mining and production of energy and electronics; Fly ash from coal burning power plants contains cesium; [ATSDR ToxProfiles] |
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| Comments |
Spontaneously ignites in air forming cesium oxides; [Sax] Animal feeding studies: cesium is relatively nontoxic; A man who ingested 34 mg/kg of cesium chloride after morning and evening meals for 36 days experienced anorexia, nausea, and diarrhea. EKG changes have been described in patients after ingestion of cesium chloride as a homeopathic remedy. [ATSDR ToxProfiles] See "Cesium hydroxide" and "Cesium, radioactive." |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Toxicological Profile: Cesium |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Vapor Pressure |
1.5 x 10 -06 mm Hg |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Melting point equals 29 deg C; [HSDB] |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: CESIUM, ELEMENTAL
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