Yttrium

Synonyms

Yttrium metal; Yttrium and compounds;

Category

Rare Earth Metals

Description

Dark-gray to black, odorless solid; [CAMEO] Some compounds, e.g., nitrates, are soluble in water; [ACGIH]

Sources/Uses

Used in the nuclear industry and in the production of incandescent gas mantles, alloys of iron and other metals, high-temperature metal coatings, television screen phosphors, and YAG lasers; [ACGIH]

Comments

TLV Basis: pulmonary fibrosis in rats after single intratracheal administration of a "very large dose"; In animal studies, it is moderately toxic by the intraperitoneal route; A dose of 50 mg/kg caused hepatic necrosis. Workers producing yttrium europium vanadate phosphor and inhaling an average of 1.4 mg/m3 complained of irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract; This effect was attributed to vanadium. [ACGIH] See the radionuclide, Yttrium-90. See "RARE EARTH METALS" and linked occupational diseases.

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

1 mg/m3, as Y

1 mg/m3, as Y

500 mg/m3

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

The available toxicological data contain no evidence that an acute exposure to a high concentration of yttrium compounds would impede escape or cause any irreversible health effects within 30 minutes." [NIOSH]

Explanatory Notes

mp = 1509 deg C; [CAMEO]

Yes

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Metal Preparation and Pouring