Alkaline Materials: Sodium, Potassium, Cesium, Rubidium, Francium, and Lithium

Alkaline materials cause irritation and corrosion of body tissues and the most commonly encountered alkaline salts are of potassium and sodium. The hydroxides of potassium and sodium being the most hazardous. The eyes are particularly susceptible to alkaline materials leading to significant tissue damage. Exposures in the workplace should be minimized using appropriate risk assessment protocols and occupational hygiene hierarchy of control measures. It is essential that employees at risk have focused safety training. Lithium compounds (carbonate and citrate) have been used widely for a number of years for the treatment of mania and bipolar disorders. The main industrial use of lithium is in lithium stearatum form, as a lubricant grease thickener in automotive applications. The toxicity of cesium is mainly due to its radioactive isotopes. Sodium metasilicate is markedly corrosive and penetrating and initial clinical manifestations of acute ingestion can include dysphagia, drooling, pain and hematemesis. Trisodium phosphate is used as a cleaning agent, food additive, stain remover and degreaser. Sodium peroxide is used as an oxidizing agent and is used as an oxygen source by reacting with carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and sodium carbonate; it is thus particularly useful in scuba gear, submarines, etc. The hazard of sodium hydroxide for the environment is caused by the hydroxyl ion. The chapter discusses properties, uses, toxic effects and standards, regulations, or guidelines of exposure of various alkaline materials. Keywords: hyperkalemia; Corrosive; burns; hypokalemia; hyponatremia; cardiac arthymias