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 scandium in humans. Scandium occurs in the earth's crust at 5 to 6 ppm. This metal, found with and sometimes classified with the rare earth metals, is widely dispersed in nature. It occurs in the mineral thortveitite and other rare earth minerals such as davidite, ytterbite, orthite, and cerrite. It is also frequently found associated with tin or zirconium. Research and development are the major scandium uses. Industrially, the metal has been used in special high-intensity mercury vapor lamps for outdoor color television lighting and in magnesium alloys. The effects of scandium in humans include information on acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, biochemistry, specific organs and systems, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.
