Uses of molybdenum
Molybdenum is an important element nutritionally, industrially, environmentally and toxicologically. It is used in numerous industrial processes. In metallurgy it is used as an alloying agent in steel and cast iron. It is also used in manufacturing high temperature alloys and steels tools .Molybdenum also used in formation of pigments that are used in printing inks. It finds its applications in making paints and ceramics. In some cases it is also used as catalyst. Molybdenum used in manufacturing of certain parts of missile and aircraft. It also finds its applications in reactor vessels, cements, die-casting copper base alloys and for specific batteries. Molybdenum also used as lubricant in industries. In agriculture Molybdenum is used as fertilizer. Molybdenum is used in the manufacture of special steels, in electrical contacts, spark plugs, X-ray tubes, filaments, screens and grids for radio valves, and in the production of tungsten, glass-to-metal seals, non-ferrous alloys and pigments. Molybdenum disulfide has unique properties as a lubricant additive. Molybdenum compounds are used in agriculture either for the direct treatment of seeds or in the formulation of fertilizers to prevent molybdenum deficiency. Molybdenum is valuable as a catalyst in the refining of petroleum.
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Effects on human health
In general, when heavy metal are present in high concentrations in the environment result in health hazards such as adversely affecting the nervous, blood forming, cardiovascular, renal and reproductive systems. Other includes reduced intelligence, attention deficit and behavioral abnormality, as well as its contribution to cardiovascular disease in adults. In recent years, there is a growing concern for the potential contribution of ingested dust to metal toxicity in humans. Some trace metals (such as Cu and Zn) at small amounts are harmless, but some (mainly Pb, As, Hg and Cd) even at extremely low concentrations are toxic and are potential cofactors, initiators or promoters in many diseases and cancer. Young children are more likely to ingest significant quantities of dust than adults because of the behavior of mouthing non-food objects and repetitive hand/finger sucking. Secondly, children have a much higher absorption rate of heavy metals from digestion system and higher hemoglobin sensitivity.
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For human beings, Mo is required 25 µg/day and an intake of 150 µg/kg body weight intake may be toxic. In serum and urine high levels of uric acid is due to long term exposure to excess of molybdenum. It may result in certain diseases like anaemia, slow rate of growth, loss of appetite and diarrhea. In Russia a gout like disease has recently known tin a o emerge in individuals living in high molybdenum area. Which tissues of human body exactly and appropriately reflect nutritional status or ultimately toxic exposure of molybdenum is still not known. 1 µg/L of Mo has been reported in human serum. In urine its average concentration was found to be 42.5 µg/L. Its concentration in urine is independent of intake of beverages or food consumption. However, it has been found to have a positive relationship with butter.
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