Effects on Human Beings
- Palladium is of low toxicity, but it can still cause irritation on the eyes and skin in all of its forms
- Palladium compounds are more dangerous and can be carcinogenic as seen on liver and bone marrow damage to animals
Medical Uses
- One of the earliest uses of a Palladium compound in medicine was in the treatment of tuberculosis in the form of Palladium chloride through small doses, but it has since been discontinued due to many side effects
- A recent use of Palladium is in the treatment of cancer, particularly breast and prostate cancer in the form of an isotope, Palladium-103 that is highly radioactive, and in a process called brachytherapy, it is injected into the area of the tumor, which will then release low amount of radiation
Dentistry
- Palladium in dentistry is used to make crowns, inlays, and bridges through through an alloy of either gold,silver, or zinc as well as being part of an artificial tooth
- In order to make an artificial tooth, a process know as electroplating is used. Impressions of the tooth are made and then with Palladium salts and the process of electroplating, which is responsible for plating the tooth