Editing Tellurium (section)

==Precautions==
{{Chembox
| container_only = yes
|Section7={{Chembox Hazards
| ExternalSDS =
| GHSPictograms = {{GHS06}}{{GHS07}}{{GHS08}}
| GHSSignalWord = Danger
| HPhrases = {{H-phrases|301|317|319|332|335|360|362|412}}<ref>[https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6327182#datasheet=LCSS&section=GHS-Classification Tellurium]. Pubchem. U.S. National Library of Medicine</ref>
| PPhrases = {{P-phrases|201|261|280|308+313}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/452378|title=Tellurium 452378|website=Sigma-Aldrich}}</ref>
| NFPA-H = 2
| NFPA-F = 0
| NFPA-R = 0
| NFPA-S = 
| NFPA_ref = 
 }}
}}
Tellurium and tellurium compounds are considered to be mildly [[toxic]] and need to be handled with care, although acute poisoning is rare.<ref name="Harrison">{{Cite web|last1 = Harrison|first1 = W.|first2 = S.|last2 =Bradberry|first3 =J. |last3 = Vale |title = Tellurium |publisher = [[International Programme on Chemical Safety]] |date=1998-01-28 |url = http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/chemical/tellur/ukpid84.htm |access-date = 2007-01-12}}</ref> Tellurium poisoning is particularly difficult to treat as many [[Chelating agents|chelation agents]] used in the treatment of metal poisoning will increase the toxicity of tellurium. Tellurium is not reported to be carcinogenic, but it may be fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through skin.<ref name="Harrison" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ziemke |first=Tobias |date=2023-09-26 |title=Tellurium Element {{!}} The Thrifty Element Tellurium |url=https://chemistrytalk.org/tellurium-element/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=ChemTalk |language=en-US}}</ref>

Humans exposed to as little as 0.01&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup> or less in air exude a foul [[garlic]]-like odor known as "tellurium breath".<ref name="CRC">{{RubberBible97th}}</ref><ref name="Distillations">{{cite journal|last1= Kean |first1=Sam |title=The Scent of a Molecule |journal=Distillations |date=2017|volume=3|issue=3 |page=5 |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/the-scent-of-a-molecule|access-date=May 16, 2018}}</ref>
This is caused by the body converting tellurium from any oxidation state to [[dimethyl telluride]], (CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Te, a volatile compound with a pungent garlic-like smell. Volunteers given 15&nbsp;mg of tellurium still had this characteristic smell on their breath eight months later. In laboratories, this odor makes it possible to discern which scientists are responsible for tellurium chemistry, and even which books they have handled in the past.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-16 |title=The periodic table of danger (open access) |url=https://www.ase.org.uk/resources/school-science-review/issue-375/periodic-table-of-danger-open-access |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.ase.org.uk}}</ref> Even though the metabolic pathways of tellurium are not known, it is generally assumed that they resemble those of the more extensively studied [[selenium]] because the final methylated metabolic products of the two elements are similar.<ref>{{Cite journal|pmid = 5911055|journal = American Journal of Physiology. Legacy Content|title = Comparative metabolism of selenium and tellurium in sheep and swine|volume = 211|issue = 1|pages = 6–10|author = Wright, PL|author2 = B|date = 1966|doi=10.1152/ajplegacy.1966.211.1.6|doi-access = free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1007/BF01726117|title = Tellurium-intoxication|date = 1989|last1 = Müller|first1 = R.|last2 = Zschiesche|first2 = W.|last3 = Steffen|first3 = H. M.|last4 = Schaller|first4 = K. H.|journal = Klinische Wochenschrift|volume = 67|pages = 1152–5|pmid = 2586020|issue = 22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1007/BF02785282|title = Biochemistry of tellurium|first = Andrew|last = Taylor|journal =Biological Trace Element Research|volume = 55|issue = 3|date = 1996|pages =231–239|pmid = 9096851| bibcode=1996BTER...55..231T |s2cid = 10691234}}</ref>

People can be exposed to tellurium in the workplace by inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and eye contact. The [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) limits ([[permissible exposure limit]]) tellurium exposure in the workplace to 0.1&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup> over an eight-hour workday. The [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] (NIOSH) has set the [[recommended exposure limit]] (REL) at 0.1&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup> over an eight-hour workday. In concentrations of 25&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup>, tellurium is [[IDLH|immediately dangerous to life and health]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = CDC – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards – Tellurium|url = https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0587.html|website = www.cdc.gov|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>