Description

Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development. The body uses iron for hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that supplies oxygen to the muscles. The body also needs iron to create some hormones and connective tissue.

The body needs the right amount of iron. If you have too little iron, you may develop iron deficiency, anemia. Low iron levels lead to blood loss, poor diet, inability to absorb enough iron from food. People at highest risk of iron deficiency are children and pregnant women or during their cycle.

However, too much iron can damage the body. So watch out for too many iron food supplements.

There is also an inherited disorder called hemochromatosis which accumulates iron in excessive amounts in the body (1).

Iron is used in:

• metals
• welding & soldering products
• metal surface treatment products
• adhesives and sealants
• fillers
• putties
• plasters
• modelling clay
• explosives
• non-metal-surface treatment products
• lubricants and greases and semiconductors

Other release to the environment of this substance is likely to occur from:

• detergents
• automotive care products
• paints and coating or adhesives
• fragrances and air fresheners
• cooling liquids in refrigerators
• oil-based electric heaters
• hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension
• lubricants in motor oil and break fluids

Iron studies

Molecular Formula: Fe

Molecular Weight: 55.845 g/mol

UNII: E1UOL152H7

CAS: 7439-89-6    8048-10-0  8053-60-9  12597-68-1  14067-02-8  129048-51-7  195161-83-2   199281-22-6  39344-71-3  70884-35-4  73135-38-3  8011-79-8  8053-60-9  161135-39-3  190454-13-8  443783-52-6  675141-17-0  1867181-06-3

EC Number: 231-096-4  232-467-3  603-108-1  617-112-6  917-706-8

PubChem Substance ID 57654006

MDL number MFCD00010999

Synonyms:

• ferrous iron
• Remko
• Armco iron
• HQ (metal)
• LOHA
• Ferrovac E
• Hoeganaes EH
• 3ZhP
• Ancor B
• Atomiron 5M
• PZhO
• Atomiron 44MR
• Atomiron AFP 5
• Atomiron AFP 25
• Atomel 28
• Atomel 95
• FT 3 (element)
• HF 2 (element)
• HL (iron)
• HS (iron)
• Atomel 500M
• iron metal
• PZh2M
• PZh3M
• PZh4M

References________________________________

 (1) U.S. National Library of Medicine - MedlinePlus - Iron