Modified on 2009/10/14 21:42 by admin
Tin is a natural element in the earth's crust. It is a soft, white, silvery metal that doesn't dissolve in water. Tin is used to make cans. It is present in brass, bronze, pewter, and some soldering materials.

Tin can be combined with other chemicals to form compounds. When combined with chemicals like chlorine, sulfur, or oxygen, it is called an inorganic tin compound. These are used in toothpaste, perfumes, soaps, coloring agents, and dyes. When tin is combined with materials that contain carbon, it is called an organotin compound and is used to make plastics, food packages, plastic pipes, pesticides, paints, and pest repellants.

Tin metal, as well as inorganic and organic tin compounds, can be found in the air, water, and soil near places where they are naturally present in the rocks, or where they are mined, manufactured, or used.

Exposure to tin results mostly from eating food and breathing air that contains tin. Breathing or swallowing large amounts of some compounds that contain tin may cause stomachaches, anemia, and liver and kidney problems. Tin has been found in at least 202 of 1,416 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).



Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

See Also

  1. Toxic & Hazardous Substances
  2. Anemia
  3. Birth Defects
  4. Digestive Disorders: Overview
  5. Eye Disorders
  6. Female Infertility
  8. Immune Disorders
  9. Kidney & Urinary Tract Disorders
  10. Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
  11. Lung & Airway Disorders
  12. Skin Disorders: Overview
  13. Tin: Frequently Asked Questions
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