Tin

Type: Trace Element
Periodic Element: (Sn)
RDA: 200 mg/kg (Acceptable Maximum)
Importance- To Body:
Tin has no known natural biological role in living organisms.
Distribution- In Body:
* Approx. % of Body Mass
Excess Effects:
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported after ingesting canned food containing 200 mg/kg of tin. At levels of 100 mg/m3, tin is immediately dangerous to life and health. The toxic effects of tin compounds is based on the interference with the iron and copper metabolism. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for tin exposure in the workplace as 2 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday.
Deficiency Effects:
None.
Sources Food:
Canned Foods. 99.5% of the controlled food cans contain tin in an amount below acceptable maximum level according to Food Standards Agency in the UK.
Sources Environmental/Geographic:
Organotin compounds are almost as toxic as cyanide. Organotin compounds can be very toxic. “Tri-n-alkyltins” are phytotoxic and, depending on the organic groups, can be powerful bactericides and fungicides. Other triorganotins are used as miticides and acaricides.
Supplemental information: