315
Tantalum [Ta, 73]
Sometimes Ta is listed as being a nonspecific, surface carcinogen. Its salts are
nontoxic when taken orally, because they are poorly absorbed and quickly eliminated from mammals. Inhaled Ta oxide has caused transient bronchitis and interstitial pneumonitis, with hyperemia in mammals. No adverse effects due to Ta have
been reported from industrial exposure, in places where its air content was in the
range of 0.1–7.6 mg/m 3 (Chen et al. 1999; Kerwien 1996).