Properties and Consequences of Thorium for Human and Environment

Thorium is a radioactive metal and is actinide family of periodic table with a half-life of 14 billion years and approximately 99% is in the form of thorium-232 isotopes. From past to present it has been used as a contrast agent (in the form of thorotrast) in imaging, ceramic manufacturing, applications in aerospace industries and it is now considered a contributing element to the fuel cycle in nuclear facilities of some countries.Thorium emits alpha, beta and gamma rays. Therefor it is necessary to know the health implications and understand the consequences of exposure to this radioactive substance. Due to differences in the routes of entry of thorium into the body example of inhalation, mouth and skin, absorption and distribution and its effects on human and animals body are different. In this paper which begins with the introduction of thorium properties, after examining the pathways of its entry into the body, examples of its consequences for human, animals and the environment are discussed.