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 tantalum in humans. Tantalum is one of the rarer elements in the earth's crust, ranking 54th. It is used in the manufacture of capacitors and other electronic components, corrosion resistant chemical equipment, and steel alloys. Tantalum is relatively nontoxic; in fact, tantalum oxide appears to be nontoxic: oral doses as high as 8000 mg/kg caused no effect in rats. Tantalum and many of its compounds appear to be remarkably physiologically inert. Lung changes seen in animals inhaling Ta oxide were not fibrogenic and were almost completely reversible. One study found malignant fibrosarcomas in rats that had tantalum metal foil embedded for 714 days. The effects of tantalum in humans include information on acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, biochemistry, specific organs and systems, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.
