Sources and exposure to Thorium:
Rocks, soil, water, plants, ceramics, gas lantern mantles, metals in the aerospace industry and nuclear reactors reactions, fuel for nuclear energy and mining.
When rocks containing thorium break down by wind and water, the thorium becomes part of the soil. In most soils, thorium will attach strongly to the soil, which prevents it from moving into the groundwater.
Windblown dust and volcanic eruptions are natural sources of thorium in the air. Thorium can move through the air and settle out onto the ground or in water. The amount of thorium found in water is generally very low. Any thorium that is in water will usually be found in the sediment at the bottom.
Because thorium is found naturally on earth, everyone is exposed to small amounts in air, water, and food.
You may be exposed to higher levels of thorium if you live near or work at facilities where uranium, phosphate, or tin ore are processed. Also, living near a radioactive waste disposal site or a place where soil levels of thorium are high may increase your risk of exposure.
Nutrient interactions:
unknown
Physiological effects:
Th can damage chromosomes.
Clinical significance:
Exposure may lead to increased risk of certain cancers including gallbladder, liver, and leukemia, as well as cirrhosis. Inhaled Th (mainly among workers exposed to Th dus) can cause lung damage many years after being exposed.
References:
CDC. ToxFAQs for Thorium. 2014; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=659&tid=121, 2020
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2019. Toxicological Profile for Thorium. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
Thorium
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