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 palladium in humans. The concentration of platinum in the earth's crust is 5 ppb. The platinum-group metals are recovered from placer deposits of two intergrown alloys of the metals and from sulfide-ore bodies. Most of the new platinum-group metal recovery in the United States is from copper and gold refining. Platinum is used for chemically resistant laboratory and plant apparatus and vessel linings, spinnerets for extruding synthetic fibers, electrochemical anodes, and jewelry. Certain platinum complexes are used in cancer therapy. Platinum was most frequently found in subcutaneous fat among 16 tissues examined from California autopsies. The effects of palladium in humans include information on acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, biochemistry, specific organs and systems, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.
