What is Cesium?
CAS#: 007440-46-2
Cesium is a naturally occurring element found combined with
other elements in rocks, soil, and dust in low amounts. Naturally
occurring cesium is not radioactive and is referred to as stable
cesium. There is only one stable form of cesium naturally present
in the environment, 133Cs (read as cesium one-thirty-three).
Nuclear explosions or the breakdown of uranium in fuel elements
can produce two radioactive forms of cesium, 134Cs and 137Cs.
Both isotopes decay into non-radioactive elements. 134Cs and
137Cs generate beta particles as they decay. It takes about
2 years for half of 134Cs to give off its radiation and about
30 years for 137Cs; this is called the halflife.
Related Resources for Cesium
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CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their
frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at
National Priorities List (NPL) sites.
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Interaction Profile
Succintly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for mixtures of hazardous substances.
- Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
- National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental
Chemicals
Provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S.
population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
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Public Health Statement
Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One
of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
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ToxFAQ
Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions
about a contaminant and its health effects.
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Toxicological Profile
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for a hazardous substance.