yttrium [90Y] chloride

Yttrium can be highlytoxicto humans, animals and plants.Water-soluble compounds of yttrium are considered mildly toxic, while its insoluble compounds are non-toxic.In experiments on animals, yttrium and its compounds caused lung and liver damage, though toxicity varies with different yttrium compounds. In rats, inhalation of yttrium citrate causedpulmonary edemaanddyspnea, while inhalation ofyttrium chloridecaused liver edema,pleural effusions, and pulmonary hyperemia. Exposure to yttrium compounds in humans may cause lung disease.Workers exposed to airborne yttrium europium vanadate dust experienced mild eye, skin, and upper respiratory tract irritation—though this may be caused by thevanadiumcontent rather than the yttrium.Acute exposure to yttrium compounds can cause shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, andcyanosis.TheOccupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA)limitsexposure to yttrium in the workplace to 1 mg/m3(5.8×10−10oz/cu in) over an 8-hour workday. TheNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)recommended exposure limit(REL) is 1 mg/m3(5.8×10−10oz/cu in) over an 8-hour workday. At levels of 500 mg/m3(2.9×10−7oz/cu in), yttrium isimmediately dangerous to life and health.Yttrium dust is highly flammable.