Toxicity

Pure gold is non-toxic and non-irritating when ingested[40] and is sometimes used as a food decoration in the form of gold leaf. It is also a component of the alcoholic drinks Goldschläger, Gold Strike, and Goldwasser. Gold is approved as a food additive in the EU (E175 in the Codex Alimentarius).Soluble compounds (gold salts) such as potassium gold cyanide, used in gold electroplating, are toxic to the liver and kidneys. There are rare cases of lethal gold poisoning from potassium gold cyanide.[41][42] Gold toxicity can be ameliorated with chelation therapy with an agent such as Dimercaprol.It was voted Allergen of the Year in 2001Pure gold is non-toxic and non-irritating when ingested[40] and is sometimes used as a food decoration in the form of gold leaf. It is also a component of the alcoholic drinks Goldschläger, Gold Strike, and Goldwasser. Gold is approved as a food additive in the EU (E175 in the Codex Alimentarius).Soluble compounds (gold salts) such as potassium gold cyanide, used in gold electroplating, are toxic to the liver and kidneys. There are rare cases of lethal gold poisoning from potassium gold cyanide.[41][42] Gold toxicity can be ameliorated with chelation therapy with an agent such as Dimercaprol.It was voted Allergen of the Year in 2001