Tellurium

Metals -> Metalloid Compounds (Tellurium)

Flammable agents - 3rd degree

6.24 (EPA, 1998) - Denser than water; will sink

6.11-6.27

6.0-6.25 g/cm³

6.24

6.232 @25 °C

6.24

Grayish-white, lustrous, brittle, crystalline solid, hexagonal, rhombohedral structure

Dark-gray to brown, amorphous powder with metal characteristics

Insoluble (NIOSH, 2024)

Insol in benzene, carbon disulfide

INSOL IN HOT & COLD WATER, HYDROCHLORIC ACID; SOL IN NITRIC ACID, AQ REGIA, POTASSIUM CYANIDE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, SULFURIC ACID

Solubility in water: none

Insoluble

1814 °F amorphous powder; 2534 °F crystalline solid (EPA, 1998)

989.9 °C

989.8 °C

1814 °F

988 °C @760 [mm Hg]

1814 °F

842 °F (EPA, 1998)

449.8 °C

449.5 °C

842 °F

449.51 °C

842 °F

1 mmHg at 968 °F (EPA, 1998)

Vapor pressure between 511 and 835 °C is given by equation logP(kPa)= 6.7249-(5960.2/K)

0 mmHg (approx)

0.75 [mm Hg] @502 °C

0 mmHg (approx)

Danger

H360Df: May damage the unborn child; Suspected of damaging fertility [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

P203, P260, P263, P264, P270, P280, P318, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 0.8% (4 of 527) of reports.

Danger

H301 (18.6%): Toxic if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]

Chemical: Tellurium

Hazard Traits - Reproductive Toxicity

Tellurium is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Tellurium are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)

Status: Active Update: 16-11-2022 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/14525

Tellurium: Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standard

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

A finely divided suspension of elemental tellurium in air will explode. Burning tellurium produces toxic tellurium oxide gas. Avoid solid sodium, halogens, interhalogens, metals, hexalithium disilicide. Reacts with nitric acid; reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid forming a red solution. Dissolves in potassium hydroxide in the presence of air with formation of deep red solution; combines with halogens. Avoid antimony and chlorine trifluoride; chlorine trifluoride reacts vigorously with tellurium producing flame. Fluorine and tellurium react with incandescence. Lithium silicide attacks tellurium with incandescence. Reaction with zinc is accompanied by incandescence (same potential with cadmium, only hazard is less). A vigorous reaction results when liquid tellurium is poured over solid sodium. (EPA, 1998)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

Combustible. Finely dispersed particles form explosive mixtures in air.

FIRE HAZARD: MODERATE, IN FORM OF DUST WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT OR FLAME OR BY CHEM REACTION WITH OXIDIZING AGENTS.

ELEMENTAL TELLURIUM WILL BURN SLOWLY IN AIR.

Causes central nervous system depression. Moderate skin and eye irritant. Tellurium is capable of doing harm within the body by replacing the essential element sulfur. (EPA, 1998)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

The TLV excludes the compound hydrogen telluride (H2Te). Garlic odor of the breath, urine, and sweat are signs of tellurium absorption. Foundry workers exposed to 0.01-0.1 mg/m3 with a peak of 0.74 mg/m3 complained of metallic taste, somnolence, and garlic odor. Signs of tellurium poisoning in experimental animals include pneumonitis, hemolytic anemia, hematuria, paralysis, convulsions, and coma. In 2 cases of human poisoning after instillation of 2 grams of sodium tellurite by ureteral catheter, the patients suffered cyanosis, stupor, and signs of liver injury and died 6 hours after the accident. There have not been any reports of serious occupational illnesses or deaths. [ACGIH] Causes damage to the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and heart in animal experiments; [Nordberg, p. 1217] In high-dose animal studies, tellurium produces birth defects (hydrocephalus). [Frazier] Tellurium is a hepatotoxic agent. [Zimmerman, p. 4] Tellurium is a skin and respiratory tract irritant. It can have effects on the CNS and liver. [ICSC] See Tellurium hexafluoride.

Metals, Less Reactive

Metals, Less Reactive

TELLURIUM is attacked by chlorine fluoride with incandescence. When tellurium and potassium are warmed in an atmosphere of hydrogen, combination occurs with incandescence [Mellor 11:40. 1946-47]. Burning tellurium produces toxic tellurium oxide gas. Avoid solid sodium, halogens, interhalogens, metals, hexalithium disilicide. Reacts with nitric acid; reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid forming a red solution. Dissolves in potassium hydroxide in the presence of air with formation of deep red solution; combines with halogens. Avoid antimony and chlorine trifluoride; chlorine trifluoride reacts vigorously with tellurium producing flame. Fluorine and tellurium react with incandescence. Lithium silicide attacks tellurium with incandescence. Reaction with zinc is accompanied by incandescence (same potential with cadmium, only hazard is less). A vigorous reaction results when liquid tellurium is poured over solid sodium [EPA, 1998].

Mixtures of tellurium tetrabromide or tellurium tetrachloride with ammonia produces tellurium nitride complexes that are explosive upon heating. Tellurium trioxide is a powerful oxidant, which reacts violently when heated with a variety of metallic and non metallic materials. Noncombustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes.

Upon heating, toxic fumes are formed. Decomposes on heating. This produces toxic fumes. Reacts vigorously with halogens and interhalogens. This generates fire hazard. Reacts with zinc with incandescence. Lithium silicide attacks tellurium with incandescence.

Straight water streams will scatter molten tellurium oxide. Wear goggles, rubber gloves, and proper respirator with filter.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

Use foam, carbon dioxide, dry powder.

Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Induce vomiting (ONLY IN CONSCIOUS PERSONS!). Refer for medical attention .

Signs and Symptoms of Acute Tellurium Exposure: Signs and symptoms of acute exposure to tellurium may include drowsiness, malaise, lassitude, weakness, and dizziness. Gastrointestinal symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and constipation. A metallic taste, garlicky breath, and profuse sweating may be noted. Kidney damage, liver injury, and pulmonary effects may also occur. Dermal exposure may result in dermatitis (red, inflamed skin).

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

(General first aid procedures)

1. VENTILATE AREA OF SPILL OR LEAK. 2. COLLECT SPILLED MATERIAL IN THE MOST CONVENIENT & SAFE MANNER & DEPOSIT IN SEALED CONTAINERS FOR RECLAMATION OR FOR DISPOSAL IN A SECURED SANITARY LANDFILL. LIQUIDS CONTAINING TELLURIUM & CMPD SHOULD BE ABSORBED IN VERMICULITE, DRY SAND, EARTH, OR A SIMILAR MATERIAL.

Caution : When heated to decomposition, toxic fumes of tellurium oxide will be emitted. Avoid sources of extreme heat.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered sealable containers. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

SRP: Contaminated protective clothing should be segregated in such a manner so that there is no direct personal contact by personnel who handle, dispose, or clean the clothing. Quality assurance to ascertain the completeness of the cleaning procedures should be implemented before the decontaminated protective clothing is returned for reuse by the workers. Contaminated clothing should not be taken home at end of shift, but should remain at employee's place of work for cleaning.

Selenium is known to form complexes with heavy metals in the blood and thus increase the retention time of the metals in several organs, especially in the reticulo-endothelial system. Selenium may similarly cause retention of mercury in the lung after metallic mercury (Hg0) inhalation. This study, comparing the effects of tellurium with those of selenium (both in group '6b' of the periodical system), showed that Te(IV) was as effective as Se(IV) and Se(VI) (all given in a dose of 10 mumol/kg body wt.) in retaining inhaled 203Hg0 (1.5 mumol/kg body wt.) in the lung (presumably 203Hg2+ after oxidation). Te(VI) had to be given in a dose of 100 mumol/kg body wt to produce the same effect. As in the lung, also in other organs tellurium caused a dose-dependent increase in mercury retention. At a dose level of 10 mumol Te(IV) per kg body wt. the mercury retention ratios (treated/control) were 140 for the lung and 8.6 for the whole body. The corresponding figures for Te(VI) (10, 30 and 100 mumol/kg body wt.) were 10, 73 and 120 and 3.7, 3.9 and 4.3, respectively. Retention of i.v. injected 203HgCl2 was increased by pre-administration of tellurium, again in a dose-dependent manner and Te(IV) being 3-10 times more effective than Te(VI). The kidney and the spleen were the dominant organs, as is the case after Se pretreatment. Anions of other elements, arsenite, arsenate, chromate, molybdate and wolframate (30 mumol/kg body wt.), did not affect the retention of 203Hg in lung or any other organ, or in the whole body after inhalation of 203Hg0. It is suggested that Te(IV) may easily be reduced to Te2- (in analogy with selenium) which may complex with Hg2+. The liability for Te(VI) to be reduced to Te2- appears to be approx. 10 times lower.

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Drowsiness. Metallic taste. Headache. Garlic odour. Nausea.

Redness. Pain.

Abdominal pain. Constipation. Vomiting. Further see Inhalation.

Garlic breath, sweating; dry mouth, metallic taste; drowsiness; anorexia, nausea, no sweating; dermatitis; In Animals: central nervous system, red blood cell changes

... EXPOSURE TO TELLURIUM FUME OCCURRED ... POURING ... TELLURIUM-COPPER ALLOY ... ONLY ... SYMPTOM ... GARLIC ODOR. TELLURIUM WAS PRESENT IN URINE IN AMT FROM 0.008 TO 0.106 MG/L. SKIN LESIONS ... DRY, SCALY ITCHING PATCHES & LOSS OF SWEAT FUNCTION ... .

Tellurium is one of the rarest elements on earth. Intoxications are rare & almost exclusively occupationally exposed workers are affected. Only a few cases of non- occupational poisoning have been reported so far. Severe poisoning results in respiratory depression & circulatory collapse. After occupational exposure main symptoms & signs include loss of appetite, dryness of the mouth, suppression of sweating, a metallic taste in the mouth, & most notable, a sharp garlic odor of the breath, sweat & urine.

THE GARLIC ODOR OF SWEAT WAS A GOOD INDICATOR OF THE ABSORPTION OF TELLURIUM.

Exposure of iron foundry workers to concns of 0.01 & 0.1 mg Te/cu m for 22 months produced mild GI distress, the characteristic garlic odor, dryness of the mouth, metallic taste, & somnolence.

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for TELLURIUM, ELEMENTAL (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

... IN CATS, CHRONIC POISONING ... INDUCED BY INJECTION OF OILY SUSPENSION OF METALLIC TELLURIUM SC OR IM, & ... FOUND AFTER 3 MO TO CAUSE DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN GANGLION CELLS OF RETINA & IN BRAIN ... RETINAL GANGLION CELLS ... DEVELOPED HONEYCOMBED VACUOLAR DEGENERATION ... .

... POISONING OF MONKEYS ... PRODUCED ENCEPHALOPATHY & CHANGES IN RETINAL GANGLION CELLS, OPTIC NERVES, OPTIC TRACTS, & IN LATERAL GENICULATE BODIES. NO DESCRIPTION ... PUBLISHED ON EFFECTS ON VISION OR ON RELATED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS.

BRAINS OF RATS TREATED ORALLY WITH 0.2 G TELLURIUM DAY FOR 2-6 MO SHOWED INCR IN LIPOFUSCIN PIGMENTS IN NEURONAL PARENCHYMA.

RATS FED 0.2 G/DAY TELLURIUM SHOWED BLACK BRAIN CAUSED BY DARK TELLURIUM PARTICLES LOCALIZED IN LIPOFUSCIN GRANULES IN NEURON CYTOPLASM THROUGHOUT BRAIN, PROBABLY DUE TO EFFECTS OF TELLURIUM ON BRAIN MITOCHONDRIA.

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for TELLURIUM, ELEMENTAL (35 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poison A and B/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poison A and B/

... BAL VALUELESS IN THERAPY OF EXPOSURE TO TELLURIUM ... IT ENHANCES ITS TOXICITY, POSSIBLY BY FORMATION OF DIMERCAPROL-TELLURIUM COMPLEX.

THERE IS PRESENTLY NO ANTIDOTE FOR TELLURIUM POISONING.

For more Antidote and Emergency Treatment (Complete) data for TELLURIUM, ELEMENTAL (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

LD50 Rat oral 83 mg/kg

LD50 Rabbit oral 67 mg/kg

LD50 Guinea pig oral 45 mg/kg

The efficacy of garlic as a lipid-lowering agent is being increasingly recognized, but the biochemical mechanisms underlying this action are currently unknown. It is proposed that organic tellurium compounds, which are found in high concentration in fresh garlic buds, may contribute to this action by inhibiting squalene epoxidase, the penultimate enzyme in the synthetic pathway of cholesterol. Weanling rats fed a diet rich in tellurium develop a demyelinating polyneuropathy due to inhibition of this enzyme in peripheral nerves. Chronic exposure to small amounts of tellurium found in garlic might reduce endogenous cholesterol production through inhibition of hepatic squalene epoxidase and so reduce cholesterol levels. Tellurium may also contribute to the characteristic odor of garlic since the most obvious clinical sign of tellurium poisoning is a garlic-like odor.

Inclusion of 1.1% tellurium in the diet of developing rats causes a highly synchronous primary demyelination of peripheral nerves, which is followed closely by a period of rapid remyelination. The demyelination is related to the inhibition of squalene epoxidase activity, which results in a block in cholesterol synthesis and accumulation of squalene. We now report that the demyelination resulting from this limiting of the supply of an intrinsic component of myelin (cholesterol) leads to repression of the expression of mRNA for myelin-specific proteins. Tellurium exposure resulted in an increase in total RNA (largely rRNA) in sciatic nerve, which could not be accounted for by cellular proliferation; these increased levels of rRNA may be a reactive response of Schwann cells to toxic insult and may relate to the higher levels of protein synthesis required during remyelination. In contrast, steady-state levels of mRNA, determined by Northern blot analysis, for P0 and myelin basic protein were markedly decreased (levels after 5 days of tellurium exposure were only 10-15% of control levels as a fraction of total RNA and 25-35% of control levels when the increased levels of total RNA were taken into account). Message levels increased during the subsequent period of remyelination and reached near-normal levels 30 days after beginning tellurium exposure. Although message levels for the myelin-associated glycoprotein showed a similar temporal pattern, levels did not decrease as greatly and subsequently increased sooner than did levels for P0 and myelin basic protein. The coordinate alterations in message levels for myelin proteins indicate that Schwann cells can down-regulate and then up-regulate the synthesis of myelin in response to alterations in the supply of membrane components.

Rats in blood: 9 days; Rats in kidneys: 23 days; In bone: 600 days; [Nordberg, p. 815]

... THE WHOLE BODY RETENTION MODEL FOR MAN ASSUMES BIOLOGICAL HALF-TIME OF ABOUT 3 WK.

In the nervous system, tellurium accumulates in the gray matter, not the white matter, when injected intracerebrally. The metal is found in phagocytic & ependymal cells & in lysosomes as fine needles.

Elemental tellurium is poorly absorbed. ... Soluble tellurium can be absorbed through the skin, although ingestion or inhalation of fumes presents the greatest industrial hazard. A metallic taste in the mouth may result from excessive absorption. The characteristic sign of absorption is the garlic-like odor ... in the breath & sweat.

Urinary, fecal, & biliary excretion also occur. Urinary excretion is probably more important than respiratory excretion in eliminating absorbed tellurium.

EXCRETION BY BREATH ... IS NOT ... IMPORTANT CHANNEL. ... EXCRETION IN SALIVA ... SUGGESTED ... AS EXPLANATION OF METALLIC TASTE IN MOUTH ... .

For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for TELLURIUM, ELEMENTAL (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Used in semiconductor devices, storage batteries, tellurium vapor lamps, alloys (lead, copper, tin, steel, and iron), blasting caps, isotopes for medical imaging; Also used as a pigment in enamels and glass, to produce a black finish on silverware, and to vulcanize rubber; [HSDB] Bismuth telluride is used in thermoelectric devices. Organic tellurium compounds are used in bactericides, pharmaceuticals, photographic development, etching solutions, and water treatment chemicals. Tellurium is present in garlic, milk, nuts, and fish. In the body, tellurium is converted to dimethyl telluride, which gives a garlic odor to the breath and sweat. [Rom, p. 1094]

Steel Producing [Category: Industry]

Coloring agent in chinaware, porcelains, enamels, glass; producing black finish on silverware

Semiconductor devices and research; mfr special alloys of marked electrical resistance

Improve the crop strength of tin and the mechanical properties of lead.

As a catalyst

Commercial grade: copper, 0.01 wt%; lead, 0.003 wt%; selenium, 0.01 wt%; silica, 0.04 wt%; iron, 0.01 wt%

High purity grade: other impurities, 10 ppm.

2023: 250,000 - <550,000 lb

(1975) 150-200 tons (approx)

The largest use for tellurium was as an additive to free- machining steel, about one-half of the market. Chemicals and catalyst usage made up about 25% of the market. Additives to nonferrous alloys accounted for slightly more than 10% of total use, and photoreceptor and thermoelectric applications accounted for slightly less than 10%. Other uses were about 5%.

Most commercial tellurium is recovered from electrolytic copper refinery slimes. The tellurium content of the slimes can range from trace up to 10%. Typically, the removal of copper in slimes is accomplished by the autoclaving of slimes at elevated temperatures with sulfuric acid and oxygen. Using temperatures of 120 °C and oxygen pressures of 345 kPa (50 psig) allows almost complete copper extraction and tellurium extractions ranging from 50-80%. Tellurium is recovered from solution by cementation with copper at elevated (>90 °C) temperature. Copper telluride is leached with caustic soda and air to produce a sodium tellurite solution. This solution with excess free caustic soda is then electrolyzed in a cell using stainless steel anodes to produce tellurium metal.

To produce commercial (99.5%) tellurium metal, tellurium dioxide is dissolved in hydrochloric acid. The tellurium solution is saturated with sulfur dioxide gas to yield commercial tellurium powder, which is washed, dried, and melted.

TELLURIUM ... EXTRACTED CHIEFLY FROM RESIDUES OF BISMUTH ORES ... DISSOLVED IN HYDROGEN CHLORIDE, TELLURIUM PRECIPITATES BY ADDING SODIUM SULFITE ... PURIFIED BY BOILING WITH SODIUM SULFIDE, POWDERED SULFUR & SODIUM SULFITE.

Reduction of telluric oxide with sulfur dioxide; by dissolving the oxide in a caustic soda solution and plating out the metal.

Powder, sticks, slabs, and tablets, 99.5% pure, crystals up to 99.999% pure.

Commercial grade: 99.7 wt% tellurium; High purity grade: 99.999 wt% tellurium

Commercial grade: Tablets, slabs, sticks, powder; high purity: cast cakes, chunks

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

Tellurium: ACTIVE

DISCOVERED BY VON REICHENSTEIN IN 1782; NAMED BY KLAPROTH IN 1798.

A tellurium containing catalyst from an industrial plant caused a serious odor problem during biological treatment of wastewater from about 35 plants producing organic and inorganic chemicals in the Netherlands. Odor problems, not noticeable during the first years of wastewater plant operation, developed on the skin of the operators and at a distance of 0.5 to 1 km from the plant. It was determined that the odor producing organic tellurium compound was produced under anoxic conditions in the denitrification step. Faint odor was detected with addition of as little as 0.01 mg/l of tellurium tetrachloride. This odor was apparent earlier under anoxic conditions than under aerobic conditions. Strong odor was produced under anoxic conditions after 20 hr at concentrations of 0.02, 0.05, and 0.10 mg/l. Under aerobic conditions the higher concentrations produced faint odor except for one trial. To avoid odor problems a process was developed to reduce the tellurium content of the wastewater to 5 to 10% of the usual values before leaving the plant of origin.