Tin and Compounds
CAS ID #: 7440-31-5
Affected Organ Systems: Gastrointestinal (Digestive), Hematological (Blood Forming), Immunological (Immune System), Neurological (Nervous System), Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)
Cancer Classification: None
Chemical Classification: Inorganic substances
Summary: Tin is a natural element in the earth's crust. It is a soft, white, silvery metal that does not dissolve in water. It is present in brass, bronze, pewter, and some soldering materials. Tin metal is used to line cans for food, beverages, and aerosols. Tin can combine with other chemicals to form compounds. Combinations with chemicals like chlorine, sulfur, or oxygen are called inorganic tin compounds (i.e., stannous chloride, stannous sulfide, stannic oxide). These are used in toothpaste, perfumes, soaps, food additives and dyes. Tin also can combine with carbon to form organotin compounds (i.e., dibutyltin, tributyltin, triphenyltin). These compounds are used to make plastics, food packages, plastic pipes, pesticides, paints, and pest repellents. Tin metal, and 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.
Toxicological and Health Professionals
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance.
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
- Page last reviewed: March 3, 2011
- Page last updated: March 3, 2011
- Content source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry