CAS No.:

SAFETY PROFILE：
Lithium oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, etc., are strong bases and their solutions in water are very caustic. Otherwise, toxicity of lithium compounds is a function of their solubility in water. The halide salts, except the fluoride, are highly soluble in water. The carbonate, phosphate, oxalate, and fluoride are relatively insoluble in water. Lithium ion has central nervous system toxicity. In industry, the most hazardous lithium compound is the hydride. It produces large amounts of hydrogen gas when exposed to water; this reaction can cause severe damage to exposed tissue. Some lithium compounds, particularly the carbonate, are used in psychiatry. The difference between therapeutic levels of lithium and toxic levels is small. Plasma lithium concentrations of 2 mmol/L are associated with toxic symptoms. Concentrations of 4 mmol/L can be fatal.

The initial effects of lithium exposure are tremors of the hands, nausea, micturation, slurred speech, sluggishness, sleepiness, vertigo, thirst, and increased urine volume. Effects from continued exposure are apathy, anorexia, fatigue, lethargy, muscular weakness, and changes in ECG. Long-term exposure leads to hypothyroidism, leukocytosis, edema, weight gain, polydipsia/polyuria (increased water intake leading to increased urinary output), memory impairment, seizures, kidney damage, shock, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, death. Have been implicated in development of aplastic anemia. See also specific compounds, LITHIUM, and POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS.