Platinum: Environmental Health Criteria Series No 124

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by the mining, refining, industrial use, and recycling of platinum and selected platinum compounds. Because of its exceptional catalytic properties, resistance to chemical corrosion, and high mechanical strength, platinum is widely used in the chemical and petroleum industries, most notably in the production of catalysts, including devices for reducing hazardous gas emissions. The growing use of catalytic converters to reduce pollution from automobile exhausts has caused a sharp increase in the world demand for this metal. Compounds such as cisplatin also have important therapeutic applications.