The affect Alkaline Earth Metals have on the human body
The alkaline earth metals are found in Group 2 on the periodic table of elements. Group 2 is comprised of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. Beryllium can affect the lungs and skin of a human when they come in contact with it. Magnesium and calcium help keep the body's functions work properly.
Beryllium- Beryllium usually affects the respiratory system but can also affect other parts of the body. If a person comes in contact with beryllium, their lungs and skin will be affected. People who work in industries that deal with beryllium are more likely to be affected. Some people get reactions right after being exposed but for others it takes a longer time for them to realize they have been affected. Below is a list of symptoms people who have been affected by beryllium may experience:
- cough
- shortness of breath
- chest pains
- night sweats
- fatigue
- difficulty breathing
- bloody sputum
- weight loss
- wheezing
Magnesium- Magnesium takes up 0.05% of the human body's weight. It plays a role in the skeleton and muscles. Magnesium is also necessary in more than 300 essential metabolic reactions.
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Calcium- Calcium makes up 1.5% of the humans body's weight. Calcium is the most common mineral in the body. It is usually found in bones and teeth. It also has the most important role in keeping the body functioning properly like muscle contraction and protein regulation. The human body will take calcium from bones if a person does not have enough calcium in their diet. When the body does this, it can cause problems such as osteoporosis.
Strontium- Strontium is referred to as the "bone seeker" and was introduced to the environment in the 1950s and 1960s in fall out from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. The amount of strontium still left in the environment is slowly depleting. It is also found in the waste from nuclear reactors. Strontium is considered to be one of the more hazardous component of nuclear wastes. The accident that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused a large amount of strontium to enter the environment. Strontium tends to deposit waste in bone and bone marrow. People who are infected with strontium tend to undergo bone cancer, cancer of the soft tissue near the bone, and leukemia .he risk of cancer increases when exposed to strontium.