Bismuth, one of the rare elements, is rated as practically non-toxic. Despite being defined as one of the heavy metals, its status as the "green metal" is well recognised by the scientific community. Bismuth is recognised as one of the least toxic of all metals known today.
The only existing regulations governing its use are for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Its non-toxic status is also emphasised clearly by the fact that medical studies have been carried out using high doses of bismuth compounds over long periods of time. No harmful side effects have been observed, although abuse is likely to result in adverse effects.
There are no known cases of poisoning at work with bismuth or its compounds. Its properties, which are comparable to those of lead, make it an ideal substitute for the toxic metal. Thus, for example, bismuth has been accepted as a replacement for brass fixtures in the drinking water technology of the US EPA/NSF, even for the state of California. There are countless other applications where bismuth can be used as a substitute for lead (ceramics, lubricants, paints, dyes etc.).
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