Page last updated: 2024-11-05

thorium

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Description

Thorium: A radioactive element of the actinide series of metals. It has an atomic symbol Th, atomic number 90, and atomic weight 232.04. It is used as fuel in nuclear reactors to produce fissionable uranium isotopes. Because of its radioopacity, various thorium compounds are used to facilitate visualization in roentgenography. [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]

Cross-References

ID SourceID
PubMed CID23960
CHEBI ID33385
MeSH IDM0021412

Synonyms (27)

Synonym
TH ,
thorium
90th
CHEBI:33385 ,
torio
7440-29-1
232th
hsdb 864
un2975
thorium-232
einecs 231-139-7
thorium metal, pyrophoric
60yu5mig9w ,
T567800000
thorium, elemental
thorium metal, pyrophoric [un2975] [radioactive]
hsdb 6932
unii-60yu5mig9w
thorium [hsdb]
thorium [mi]
thorium nanofoil
ZSLUVFAKFWKJRC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
DTXSID6049800
Q1115
thorium standard: th @ 1000 microg/ml in 5% hno3
thorium standard: th @ 10000 microg/ml in 5% hno3
thorium - th @ 1000 microg/ml in 5% hno3

Research Excerpts

Overview

Thorium is a natural radioactive element present in the environment. It has the potential to be used as a nuclear fuel. Thorium-227 is a potential therapeutic radionuclide for applications in targeted α-radioimmunotherapy for the treatment of various types of cancer.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Thorium is a byproduct of the rare earth mining industry and can be utilized as fuel for the next-generation nuclear power facilities, which may pose health risks to the population. "( Thorium(IV) triggers ferroptosis through disrupting iron homeostasis and heme metabolism in the liver following oral ingestion.
Ma, M; Wang, R; Xu, M, 2023
)
3.8
"Thorium is a radioactive compound and a direct depleted-uranium decay-product."( Living near an active U.S. military base in Iraq is associated with significantly higher hair thorium and increased likelihood of congenital anomalies in infants and children.
Basher Ahamadani, F; Mahdavi Damghani, A; Savabieasfahani, M, 2020
)
1.5
"Thorium is a radionuclide highly widespread in the earth's crust with a relevant contribution to the exposure to radiation of living organisms. "( Baseline thorium concentration and isotope ratios in topsoil of Zacatecas State, Mexico.
Barrado-Olmedo, AI; Escareño-Juarez, E; Gascó-Leonarte, C; Jiménez-Barredo, F; Vega, M, 2021
)
2.48
"Thorium (Th) is a natural radioactive element present in the environment and has the potential to be used as a nuclear fuel. "( Influence of Speciation of Thorium on Toxic Effects to Green Algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa.
Ding, Y; He, X; Lan, T; Ma, Y; Peng, C; Wang, D; Zhang, P; Zhang, Z, 2017
)
2.19
"Thorium is a well-known radioactive and chemically toxic contaminant in the environment. "( Computation-Assisted Nanopore Detection of Thorium Ions.
Chen, X; Guan, X; Juarez, O; Li, D; Roozbahani, GM; Zhang, Y, 2018
)
2.19
"Thorium-227 is a potential therapeutic radionuclide for applications in targeted α-radioimmunotherapy for the treatment of various types of cancer. "( The potential radio-immunotherapeutic α-emitter
Arinc, A; Collins, SM; Fenwick, AJ; Ivanov, P; Jerome, SM; Keightley, JD; Pearce, AK, 2019
)
1.96
"Thorium X is an ionizing radiation treatment that was commonly used by dermatologists in the 1930 s to 1950 s to treat a variety of benign dermatoses and vascular lesions including port-wine stains. "( Thorium X treatment: multiple basal cell carcinomas within a port-wine stain.
Cliff, S; Natkunarajah, J, 2009
)
3.24
"Thorium is a natural alpha-emitting element occurring in various ores and has numerous industrial applications. "( The extraction of thorium by calix[6]arene columns for urine analysis.
Bouvier-Capely, C; Jalouali, R; Mekki, S; Rebière, F, 2011
)
2.15
"Thorium was found to be a more effective catalyst of the reaction than Cerium."( Interactions of thorium and cerium with adenine nucleotides.
Appukuttan, PS; Kartha, CC; Shivakumar, K, 1989
)
1.34
"Thorium (IV) serves as a chemical analogue for quadrivalent Pu and the light REE's (III) as chemical analogues for trivalent Am and Cm."( An assessment of soil-to-plant concentration ratios for some natural analogues of the transuranic elements.
Carlos, M; de Castro, MB; Eisenbud, M; Ford, H; Franca, EP; Linsalata, P; Lobao, N; Morse, RS; Sachett, I, 1989
)
1

Effects

Thorium has gained notoriety in recent years as a potential source of nuclear energy. Thorium lung burdens have been measured in workers in the mineral sands industry in Western Australia.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Thorium has gained notoriety in recent years, as a potential source of nuclear energy, substituting uranium in power plants. "( Evaluation of the effect of three constituent metals of monazita on the radiosensibility of human osteoblasts.
da F Iwahara, LK; de Alencar, MAV; de Oliveira, MS, 2019
)
1.96
"Thorium lung burdens have been measured in workers in the dry separation plants operated by the mineral sands industry in Western Australia. "( Thorium lung burdens of mineral sands workers.
Hewson, GS; Terry, KW, 1995
)
3.18

Toxicity

Thorium-232 is more radiotoxic than low-enriched uranium in the case of ingestion. Thorium preferentially accumulates in the liver, femur and spleen. Results indicate that thorium and cerium individually have no toxic effects on lymphocytes.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" Was shown relationship between concentration and toxic effect that is nonlinear and characterized with three parts different in induced damages level."( [Mechanisms of 232Th effects on Chlorella vulgaris Beljer and modifications of it's toxic effect with caffeine and buthionine sulfoximine].
Belykh, ES; Evseeva, TI; Geras'kin, SA; Maĭstrenko, TA,
)
0.13
"Thorium ((232)Th, IV) preferentially accumulates in the liver, femur and spleen, which necessitates evaluation of its toxic effect in these organs."( Thorium-induced oxidative stress mediated toxicity in mice and its abrogation by diethylenetriamine pentaacetate.
Ali, M; Ghosh, S; Kumar, A; Mishra, KP; Mishra, P; Pandey, BN; Sharma, P, 2008
)
3.23
" The results further demonstrated that Ca-DTPA significantly protected mice against the toxic effects of Th."( Thorium-induced oxidative stress mediated toxicity in mice and its abrogation by diethylenetriamine pentaacetate.
Ali, M; Ghosh, S; Kumar, A; Mishra, KP; Mishra, P; Pandey, BN; Sharma, P, 2008
)
1.79
"232Th and Ce (III) toxic effects and its modifications with caffeine and D,L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine on Chlorella vulgaris Beijer were studied using an optical density measure after 24 hours growth."( [The mechanisms of 232Th and of Ce (III) toxic action on Chlorella vulgaris Beijer. Estimation of 232Th radiation impact contribution into toxic effect induced].
Belykh, ES; Evseeva, TI; Geras'kin, SA; Maĭstrenko, TA,
)
0.13
" These toxicity data together with anti-tumour activity data in a CD20-positive xenograft mouse model indicate that therapeutic effects could be obtained with relatively safe dosage levels of the radioimmunoconjugate."( Assessment of long-term radiotoxicity after treatment with the low-dose-rate alpha-particle-emitting radioimmunoconjugate (227)Th-rituximab.
Borrebaek, J; Dahle, J; Heyerdahl, H; Hjelmerud, AK; Jonasdottir, TJ; Larsen, RH; Nesland, JM, 2010
)
0.36
"Workers employed on mining, processing and storage of monazite are at risk of exposure to dust with expected adverse health effects."( Toxicity of monazite particulates and its attenuation with a complex of bio-protectors.
Beresneva, OY; Bukhantsev, VA; Degtyareva, TD; Dovzenko, EI; Katsnelson, BA; Kireyeva, EP; Kostykova, SV; Kulikov, ES; Makeyev, OH; Minihaliyeva, IA; Minin, VV; Nazukin, AS; Privalova, LI; Sutunkova, MP; Valamina, IE; Yeremenko, OS,
)
0.13
"To study the adverse health effects of monazite particles in experiments on rats and to test the possibility of attenuating these effects."( Toxicity of monazite particulates and its attenuation with a complex of bio-protectors.
Beresneva, OY; Bukhantsev, VA; Degtyareva, TD; Dovzenko, EI; Katsnelson, BA; Kireyeva, EP; Kostykova, SV; Kulikov, ES; Makeyev, OH; Minihaliyeva, IA; Minin, VV; Nazukin, AS; Privalova, LI; Sutunkova, MP; Valamina, IE; Yeremenko, OS,
)
0.13
"It may be assumed that the many-sided adverse effects of MC on the organism is due, at least partially, to the presence in its composition of not only rare earth elements but also of natural radioisotopes of the thorium and uranium families."( Toxicity of monazite particulates and its attenuation with a complex of bio-protectors.
Beresneva, OY; Bukhantsev, VA; Degtyareva, TD; Dovzenko, EI; Katsnelson, BA; Kireyeva, EP; Kostykova, SV; Kulikov, ES; Makeyev, OH; Minihaliyeva, IA; Minin, VV; Nazukin, AS; Privalova, LI; Sutunkova, MP; Valamina, IE; Yeremenko, OS,
)
0.32
" Parameters of the regression equation for the concentration-effect relationship and concomitant Effective concentration (50%), EC(50), showed that (232)Th was more toxic to chlorella after a 24-h exposure than Ce."( Comparative estimation of 232Th and stable Ce (III) toxicity and detoxification pathways in freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris.
Belykh, E; Brown, J; Evseeva, T; Geras'kin, S; Majstrenko, T, 2010
)
0.36
" The results indicate that thorium and cerium individually have no toxic effects on lymphocytes."( The role of chemical interactions between thorium, cerium, and lanthanum in lymphocyte toxicity.
Almeida, CE; Duarte, IM; Mattos, RC; Oliveira, MS; Paiva, AV; Sarcinelli, PN; Yunes, SN, 2014
)
0.96
" Using weight units for comparison show that for soluble compounds, thorium-232 is more radiotoxic than low-enriched uranium in the case of ingestion but even more toxic than high-enriched uranium after inhalation or intravenous administration."( A comparison of the chemo- and radiotoxicity of thorium and uranium at different enrichment grades.
Hermann, C; Lamkowski, A; Popp, T; Port, M; Rump, A, 2023
)
1.4

Compound-Compound Interactions

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" These results highlight the potential benefit of alpha radiation-based radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs for anticancer treatment."( Interstitial wires releasing diffusing alpha emitters combined with chemotherapy improved local tumor control and survival in squamous cell carcinoma-bearing mice.
Arazi, L; Cooks, T; Efrati, M; Keisari, Y; Kelson, I; Marshak, G; Schmidt, M, 2009
)
0.35

Bioavailability

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" Our objectives in this study were to (i) determine the extent of U and Th uptake and cycling by blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum Aiton) in native habitat and (ii) identify the soil properties and processes that contribute most to U and Th bioavailability in this system."( Natural uranium and thorium distributions in podzolized soils and native blueberry.
Estes, GO; Evans, CV; Morton, LS,
)
0.45
" This evaluation required some information on the human bioavailability of U and Th from this sand."( Risk assessment after internal exposure to black sand from Camargue: uptake and prospective dose calculation.
Blanchardon, E; Bouisset, P; Chazel, V; Frelon, S; Paquet, F; Pourcelot, L; Tourlonias, E, 2007
)
0.34
" Therefore, sequential extraction protocol was performed to assess mobility and bioavailability of (238)U, (234)U, (230)Th and (226)Ra in soils from the waste pile and its surrounding."( Fractionation of natural radionuclides in soils from the vicinity of a former uranium mine Zirovski vrh, Slovenia.
Smodis, B; Strok, M, 2010
)
0.36
" Thorium bioavailability in the soil-plant system of Baotou rare earth industrial area was studied using pot experiments of wheat and single extraction methods."( Influence of plant activity and phosphates on thorium bioavailability in soils from Baotou area, Inner Mongolia.
Chen, H; Duan, T; Guo, P; Jia, X; Xu, J, 2010
)
1.53
"The aim of this work was to investigate whether Ca-alginate biopolymer beads (CaABBs) can be used to reduce the bioavailability of radionuclides in the gastrointestinal tract of humans."( Preparation of Ca-alginate biopolymer beads and investigation of their decorporation characteristics for 85Sr, 238U and 234Th by in vitro experiments.
Aytas, S; Gerstmann, U; Gok, C; Höllriegl, V, 2013
)
0.39
" Hence, mobility and possible elevated bioavailability at the legacy NORM site could be expected and further risk assessment should take this into account when decisions about the possible intervention measures are made."( Mobility of radionuclides and trace elements in soil from legacy NORM and undisturbed naturally 232Th-rich sites.
Meland, S; Mrdakovic Popic, J; Salbu, B; Skipperud, L, 2014
)
0.4
" To analyze the risk of metal transfer, metal bioavailability must be estimated by measuring biological parameters."( Assessment of the bioavailability and depuration of uranium, cesium and thorium in snails (Cantareus aspersus) using kinetics models.
Cuvier, A; de Vaufleury, A; Pauget, B; Redon, PO; Villeneuve, A, 2017
)
0.69
" The results provide insight in the regulation of Cm(III) and Th(IV) bioavailability that may prove useful for effective design of their decorporating agents and as well may help the future design of radiotherapy based on tetravalent ions."( MD simulation reveals differential binding of Cm(III) and Th(IV) with serum transferrin at acidic pH.
Bandyopadhyay, T; Mishra, L; Sundararajan, M, 2021
)
0.62

Dosage Studied

ExcerptRelevanceReference
" These radioactive isotopes are believed to be from natural sources, but their resulting annual dosage of thyroid radiation has exceeded that from iodine-131 fallout."( Radium isotope accumulation in animal thyroids.
Correa, P; Keane, AT; Perkins, RW; Van Middlesworth, L, 1966
)
0.24
" The paper also discusses parameters that influence exposure, and it presents a catalogue of recommended measures for dosage reduction."( Intakes of thorium while using thoriated tungsten electrodes for TIG welding.
Ludwig, T; Schwass, D; Seitz, G; Siekmann, H, 1999
)
0.69
" Regression analysis indicated that for any dosage group there could not be established a correlation between body mass and skeletal dose."( Does body size contribute to sensitivity of bone tumor induction by radionuclide exposure?
Lloyd, RD; Miller, SC; Taylor, GN, 2000
)
0.31
"Only the 1,000 kBq/kg dosage resulted in decreased body weight of the BALB/c mice."( Assessment of long-term radiotoxicity after treatment with the low-dose-rate alpha-particle-emitting radioimmunoconjugate (227)Th-rituximab.
Borrebaek, J; Dahle, J; Heyerdahl, H; Hjelmerud, AK; Jonasdottir, TJ; Larsen, RH; Nesland, JM, 2010
)
0.36
" These toxicity data together with anti-tumour activity data in a CD20-positive xenograft mouse model indicate that therapeutic effects could be obtained with relatively safe dosage levels of the radioimmunoconjugate."( Assessment of long-term radiotoxicity after treatment with the low-dose-rate alpha-particle-emitting radioimmunoconjugate (227)Th-rituximab.
Borrebaek, J; Dahle, J; Heyerdahl, H; Hjelmerud, AK; Jonasdottir, TJ; Larsen, RH; Nesland, JM, 2010
)
0.36
" No studies have been conducted to estimate the levels of radioactivity dosage received from Sri Lankan homemade foods."( Estimation of annual effective dose due to ingestion of radioactive elements in Sri Lankan common meal plans.
Attanayaka, T; Jayasinghe, C; Molligoda, V; Waduge, V, 2019
)
0.51
" The hazardous radiometric variables were computed, and the findings observed that the mean absorbed dosage was 23."( Natural Radioactivity of Granitic Rocks and Their Health Risk around Ingesana Mountains, Sudan.
Abdelrazig, A; Alashban, Y; Fadol, N; Idriss, H; Shubayr, N, 2024
)
1.44
[information is derived through text-mining from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Drug Classes (2)

ClassDescription
actinoid atom
f-block element atom
[compound class information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Research

Studies (2,297)

TimeframeStudies, This Drug (%)All Drugs %
pre-1990953 (41.49)18.7374
1990's122 (5.31)18.2507
2000's447 (19.46)29.6817
2010's585 (25.47)24.3611
2020's190 (8.27)2.80
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Market Indicators

Research Demand Index: 90.07

According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be very strong demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.

MetricThis Compound (vs All)
Research Demand Index90.07 (24.57)
Research Supply Index7.78 (2.92)
Research Growth Index4.85 (4.65)
Search Engine Demand Index164.90 (26.88)
Search Engine Supply Index2.00 (0.95)

This Compound (90.07)

All Compounds (24.57)

Study Types

Publication TypeThis drug (%)All Drugs (%)
Trials5 (0.21%)5.53%
Reviews45 (1.89%)6.00%
Case Studies38 (1.60%)4.05%
Observational0 (0.00%)0.25%
Other2,288 (96.30%)84.16%
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]