Hafnium (CED0003988)

Hafnium (Hf) is a chemical element with an average molecular weight of 178.49 g/mol. Hafnium belongs to the homogeneous transition metal compounds, a class of homogeneous metal compounds within the inorganic compounds. In industrial settings, it serves as a catalyst (PMC9159102) and a reagent (PMC10927795), while it is identified as a greenhouse gas in environmental contexts (PMC10134488). The element is found in or released from 34 recorded sources. These include electrical and electronic equipment such as antennas, amplifiers, adjustable resistors, coils, and auxiliary devices. It is also present in household cleaning and consumer products, including bleaching agents, pipe accessories, cigar cigarettes, and other smoking requisites. Other sources include household items like key rings, building and construction materials such as fencing, tents or canopies and ceilings, as well as food processing applications specifically related to fermentation processes for beer. Regarding plastics, hafnium has not been detected in polyethylene terephthalate or polystyrene. Literature supports inhalation as a route of exposure (PMC4131935). In terms of health effects, hafnium is associated with pulmonary edema (PMC2761044).