Health monitoring for thallium

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to thallium.  

Thallium (CAS 7440-28-0) is a blue-white, very soft metal. It oxidises in air to form a layer of thallous oxide (Tl2O). It forms alloys with other metals and readily mixes with mercury. 

Examples of work involving thallium and its compounds include: 

• analysing rocks, ores and sand, and separating diamonds in the laboratory 

• making pigments, paints, artificial gems, coloured glass, and optical glasses for lenses and prisms, electronic devices and switches 

• cleaning fossil fuel furnaces or flues and metal machining in smelters, power plants and cement factories 

• making special alloy anode plates to use in magnesium sea water batteries 

• making fireworks (green colour). 

This guide is part of a health monitoring guide collection. 

There are also health monitoring guides for: 

• persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) 

• guide for workers 

• registered medical practitioners 

• hazardous chemicals