Inhalation vanadium

Vanadium powder, dust, and most of its oxide compounds are explosive when exposed to heat and air. They are also toxic when inhaled. Vanadium chloride compounds are strong irritants to the skin and poisonous when ingested. 

In humans, 0.1-1% of orally administered vanadium is absorbed through the gut. Lung and gut absorption increases with the solubility of the vanadium compound. Vanadium pentoxide is 100% absorbed by inhalation. Vanadium is not absorbed through the skin. When absorbed, 60% of the vanadium is excreted by the kidneys within 24 h of administration. Vanadium can pass through the blood-brain barrier. 

When inhaled, vanadium is toxic to alveolar macrophages and therefore may impair pulmonary resistance to infection and clearance of particulate matter. An increase in inflammatory cells of the nasal mucosa has been observed in workers exposed to vanadium. 

The vanadium content of normal food and drinking water is in the ppb to ppm region and thus well below any toxic level. Exposure to vanadium, e.g. by inhaling vanadium pentoxide, or from elevated vanadate levels in food and drinking water, does constimte a health risk. Inhaled particulate vanadium can induce oxidative stress and thus damage the... 

Magnesium vanadates, as vanadium compounds in general, are known irritants of the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. The threshold limit value (TLV) for vanadium compounds in air recommended by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is 0.05 mg/m based on a typical 8-h workday and 40-h workweek (7,147). Chronic inhalation can lead to lung diseases such as bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and lobar pneumonia. These dust-related effects can be avoided by use of individual respirators in areas where exposure is likely. 

Knecht EA, Moorman WJ, Clark JC, et al Pulmonary reactivity to vanadium pentoxide following subchronic inhalation exposure in a non-human primate animal model. J Appl Toxicol 12 427-434, 1992... 

National Toxicology Program NTP Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Vanadium Pentoxide (CAS No. 1314-62-1) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies). NTP TR 507, NIH Pub No 03-4441. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 2002... 

Stable aerosols of fine particulates as well as vapors constitute the greatest health risk because of the likelihood of pulmonary absorption. Correlations between trace element pollution and their concentrations in biological fluids or tissue are not uncommon and have been documented for arsenic (62) and lead (63). Man can absorb 75-85% of inhaled mercury vapor at concentrations of 50-350 pg/M3 (64) and even more at lower concentrations (65). Certain aerosols like vanadium, iron, manganese, and lead may contribute to the formation of secondary atmospheric pollutants (52, 66). 

OSHA PEL Respirable Dust and Fume TWA 0.05 mg(V205)/m3 NIOSH REL TWA 1.0 mg(V)/m3 SAFETY PROFILE An inhalation hazard. Poison by subcutaneous route. Questionable carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic data. Flammable in dust form from heat, flame, or sparks. Violent reaction with BrFs, CI2, lithium, nitryl fluoride, oxidants. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of VOx. See also VANADIUM COMPOUNDS. 

In acute exposures, respiratory disease may be limited to interstitial inflammation of the alveolar epithelium, leading eventually to emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis (Cooper et al. 1982 Dungworth 1989 Stokinger 1981 Wedeen 1992). In studies of the pulmonary effects of airborne uranium dust in uranium miners and in animals, the respiratory diseases reported are probably aggravated by the inhalable dust particles (the form in which uranium is inhaled) toxicity because most of the respiratory diseases reported in these studies are consistent with the effects of inhaled dust (Dockery et al. 1993). In some of these instances, additional data from the studies show that the workers were exposed to even more potent respiratory tract irritants, such as silica and vanadium pentaoxide (Waxweiler et al. 1983). 

Vanadium is a mild irritant to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. If inhaled or ingested in more than small amounts, it may cause damage to the kidneys and the blood. No serious, long-term health effects have been identified with exposure to the element. Compounds of vanadium are much more harmful. For example, vanadium pentoxide is toxic if inhaled or swallowed. 

Levels of Significant Exposure to Vanadium and Compounds - Inhalation 2-2 Levels of Significant Exposure To Vanadium and Compounds - Oral 2-3 Existing information on Health Effects of Vanadium and Compounds 5-1 Frequency of NPL Sites with Vanadium Contamination ... 

NasVO- ), vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4), and ammonium vanadate (NH4VO3). Vanadium pentoxide dust is usually encountered in occupational settings, and humans would be exposed via the inhalation route. Information for the other vanadium compounds comes from oral studies in animals. 

No studies were located regarding death in humans after inhalation exposure to vanadium. 

Only one study was located regarding death in animals after inhalation exposure to vanadium. In this study designed to determine the LDso, two of four rabbits died following an acute exposure to 114 mg vanadium/m as vanadium pentoxide (Sjoeberg 1950). The NOAEL and NOAEL values are recorded in Table 2-1 and plotted in Figure 2-1. 

TABLE 2-1. Levels of Significant Exposure to Vanadium and Compounds - Inhalation... 

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