Editing Erbium (section)

==Biological role and precautions==
Erbium does not have a biological role, but erbium salts can stimulate [[metabolism]]. Humans consume 1 milligram of erbium a year on average. The highest concentration of erbium in humans is in the [[bone]]s, but there is also erbium in the human [[kidneys]] and [[liver]].<ref name="emsley" />

Erbium is slightly toxic if ingested, but erbium compounds are generally not toxic.<ref name="emsley" /> Ionic erbium behaves similar to ionic calcium, and can potentially bind to proteins such as [[calmodulin]]. When introduced into the body, nitrates of erbium, similar to other rare earth nitrates, increase [[triglyceride]] levels in the [[liver]] and cause leakage of hepatic (liver-related) [[Enzyme|enzymes]] to the blood, though they uniquely (along with gadolinium and dysprosium nitrates) increase [[RNA polymerase II]] activity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Hirano |first1=S. |last2=Suzuki |first2=K. T. |date=March 1996 |title=Exposure, metabolism, and toxicity of rare earths and related compounds |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=104 Suppl 1 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=85–95 |doi=10.1289/ehp.96104s185 |issn=0091-6765 |pmc=1469566 |pmid=8722113|bibcode=1996EnvHP.104S..85H }}</ref> Ingestion<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yang |first1=Daoyuan |last2=Sui |first2=Haixia |last3=Mao |first3=Weifeng |last4=Wang |first4=Yibaina |last5=Yang |first5=Dajin |last6=Zhang |first6=Lei |last7=Liu |first7=Zhaoping |last8=Yong |first8=Ling |last9=Song |first9=Yan |date=2022-11-24 |title=Dietary Exposure Assessment of Rare Earth Elements in the Chinese Population |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=19 |issue=23 |pages=15583 |doi=10.3390/ijerph192315583 |doi-access=free |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=9738814 |pmid=36497658}}</ref> and inhalation<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pagano |first1=Giovanni |last2=Thomas |first2=Philippe J. |last3=Di Nunzio |first3=Aldo |last4=Trifuoggi |first4=Marco |date=2019-04-01 |title=Human exposures to rare earth elements: Present knowledge and research prospects |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0013935119300775 |journal=Environmental Research |volume=171 |pages=493–500 |doi=10.1016/j.envres.2019.02.004 |pmid=30743241 |bibcode=2019ER....171..493P |issn=0013-9351|url-access=subscription }}</ref> are the main routes of exposure to erbium and other rare earths, as they do not diffuse through unbroken skin.<ref name=":1" />

Metallic erbium in dust form presents a fire and explosion hazard.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Haley|first1= T. J.|last2=Koste|first2= L.|last3= Komesu|first3= N.|last4= Efros|first4= M.|last5= Upham|first5= H. C. |year=1966 |title=Pharmacology and toxicology of dysprosium, holmium, and erbium chlorides |journal=Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=37–43 |doi=10.1016/0041-008x(66)90098-6 |pmid=5921895 |bibcode= 1966ToxAP...8...37H}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Haley, T. J. |year=1965 |title=Pharmacology and toxicology of the rare earth elements |journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences |volume=54 |issue=5 |pages=663–70 |doi=10.1002/jps.2600540502 |pmid=5321124}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bruce|first1= D. W.|last2= Hietbrink|first2= B. E.|last3= Dubois|first3= K. P. |year=1963 |title=The acute mammalian toxicity of rare earth nitrates and oxides |journal=Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology |volume=5 |issue=6 |pages= 750–9|doi=10.1016/0041-008X(63)90067-X|pmid= 14082480|bibcode= 1963ToxAP...5..750B}}</ref>