ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a detailed discussion on the occurrence and production, uses, chemical and physical properties, exposure and exposure limits, toxicokinetics, and effects of cesium in humans. Cesium occurs in nature as pollucite (Cs-Al-Na silicate), carnallite, beryl, and other minerals (Browning 1969) including the aluminosilicate lepidolite and the borate rhodizite. Its average crustal abundance is 1 ppm. Mineral resources in the United States are in Maine and South Dakota. Cesium is used in photoelectric cells and as a polymerization catalyst. Its compounds are used, for example, in x-ray fluorescent screens (CsBr, CsCl, Csl), as a getter in vacuum tubes (CsCl), as catalysts, as spectrometer prisms (CsBr, Csl), and in scintillation counters. The effects of cesium in humans include information on acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, biochemistry, specific organs and systems, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.
