Applications
The largest use of the element is as its oxide yttria, Y2O3, which is used in
making red phosphors for color television picture tubes. Yttrium metal has found
some use alloyed in small amounts with other metals and It is used to increase
the strength of Aluminium and Magnesium alloys. When added to cast Iron it make
the metal more workable. Although metals are generally very good at conducting
heat, there is an alloy of Yttrium with Chromium and Aluminium which is heat
resistant. Yttrium oxide in glass makes it heat- and shock-resistant, and is
used for camera lenses. Yttrium oxide is suitable to making superconductors,
which are metal oxides which conduct electricity without any loss of energy.
Yttrium in the environment
Yttrium never occurs in nature as a free element. It is found in almost all rare
earth minerals and in Uranium ores. The yellow-brown ore xenotime can contain as
much as 50% Yttrium phophate (YPO4) and is mined in Malaysia. Yttrium is found
in the rare-earth mineral monazite, of which it makes 2.5%, and in smaller
quantities in other minerals such as barnasite, fergusonite and smarskite. The
output of Yttrium is about 600 tonnes per year, measured as Yttrium oxide, and
world reserves are estimated to be around 9 million tonnes.
Health effects of Yttrium
Yttrium is one of the rare chemicals, that can be found in houses in equipment
such as colour televisions, fluorescent lamps, energy-saving lamps and glasses.
All rare chemicals have comparable properties.
Yttrium can rarely be found in nature, as it occurs in very small amounts.
Yttrium is usually found only in two different kinds of ores. The use of Yttrium
is still growing, due to the fact that it is suited to produce catalysers and to
polish glass.
Yttrium is mostly dangerous in the working envIronment, due to the fact that
damps and gasses can be inhaled with air. This can cause lung embolisms,
especially during long-term exposure. Yttrium can also cause cancer with humans,
as it enlarges the chances of lung cancer when it is inhaled. Finally, it can be
a threat to the liver when it accumulates in the human body.
Effects of Yttrium on the environment
Yttrium is dumped in the environment in many different places, mainly by
petrol-producing industries. It can also enter the environment when household
equipment is thrown away. Yttrium will gradually accumulate in soils and water
soils and this will eventually lead to increasing concentrations in humans,
animals and soil particles.
With water animals Yttrium causes damage to cell membranes, which has several
negative influences on reproduction and on the functions of the nervous system.
