Metals

Question 1

Selenium and Tellurium are mainly found where?

Answer 1

Copper and sulfur deposits.

Question 2

What is tellurium used for?

Answer 2

Vulcanization of rubber. It increased durability. It is also increasingly used in electronics.

Question 3

When do selenium and tellurium exposures occur?

Answer 3

Refining of copper and sulfur. Plastics, electronics, rubber, and glass industries. Can also have agricultural contamination due to pesticides and feeds with selenium.

Question 4

What is the classic finding or selenium/tellurium exposure?

Answer 4

Garlic odor on breath. From the formation of dimethyl selenium and dimethyl telluride.

Question 5

Selenium and tellurium concentrate where?

Answer 5

Liver and bone. Excretion may happen long after exposure.

Question 6

What does tellurium do to the skin?

Answer 6

Black and blue discoloration. May also cause paronychia, loss of hair and nails. Can also cause Rose Eye, conjunctivitis.

Question 7

What is the test for selenium exposure?

Answer 7

Check urine levels. Can also do LFTs, which should be elevated.

Question 8

How can you treat the garlic odor from selenium/tellurium?

Answer 8

Treat with ascorbic acid.

Question 9

How can you treat the burns from selenium/tellurium?

Answer 9

Topical cream containing 10% thiosulfate.

Question 10

What are some of the health risks of Cadmium?

Answer 10

Renal dysfunction, respiratory impairment, anemia, lung cancer, emphysema.

Question 11

Action level for lead?

Answer 11

30ug/m3 for 8hr TWA for greater than 30 days annually.