Dust vanadium

Most of the toxic effects of vanadium compounds result from local irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract rather than systemic toxicity. The only clearly documented effect of exposure to vanadium dust is upper respiratory tract irritation characterized by rhinitis, wheezing, nasal hemorrhage, conjunctivitis, cough, sore throat, and chest pain. Case studies have described die onset of asthma after heavy exposure to vanadium compounds, blit clinical studies to date have not detected an increased prevalence of asthma in workers exposed to vanadium. 

VANADIUM DUST and FUME (ACGIH) VANAD-IUM(V) OXIDE VANADIUM PENTAOXIDE VANADIUMPENTOXID (GERMAN) VANADIUM PENTOXIDE, non-fused form (DOT) VANADIUM-PENTOXYDE (DUTCH) VANADIUM, PENTOXYDE de (FRENCH) WANADU PIECIOTLENEK (POLISH)... 

VANADIUM BROMIDE see VEKOOO VANADIUM CHLORIDE see VEFOOO VANADIUM(III) CHLORIDE see VEPOOO VANADIUM COMPOUNDS see VCZOOO VANADIUM DUST and FUME (ACGIH) see VDUOOO VANADIUM DUST and FUME (ACGIH) see VDZOOO VANADIUM (OSHA) see VDZOOO VANADIUM OXIDE see VEAOOO VANADIUM(V) OXIDE see VDUOOO VANADIUM OXYTRICHLORIDE see VDPOOO VANADIUM PENTAOXIDE see VDUOOO VANADIUMPENTOXID (GERMAN) see VDUOOO VANADIUM PENTOXIDE (dust) see VDUOOO VANADIUM PENTOXIDE (fume) see VDZOOO... 

Gastrointestinal Effects. Volunteers exposed acutely to vanadium pentoxide dusts had no gastrointestinal complaints (Zenz and Berg 1967). People who were exposed to vanadium in oil-burner ashes also did not show gastrointestinal symptoms (Sjoeberg 1950). One study found that workers exposed chronically to vanadium dusts in factories sometimes complained of nausea and vomiting (Levy et al. 1984), but these symptoms can have a number of causes (such as exposure to other substances) and cannot be directly attributed to the vanadium. These people probably also swallowed some of the dusts. 

Hematological Effects. Volunteers exposed acutely (Zenz and Berg 1967), as well as workers exposed chronically to vanadium dusts, had normal hematological values (Kiviluoto et al. 1981a Sjoeberg 1950 Vintinner et al. 1955). 

Hepatic Effects. Workers exposed chronically to 0.01-0.5 mg/m of vanadium dusts had normal serum levels of four enzymes (serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino- transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase) that are commonly used to detect possible liver damage (Kiviluoto et al. 1981a). 

Dermal/Ocular Effects. Workers chronically exposed to vanadium dusts in factories had slight to moderate eye irritation in addition to respiratory distress (Levy et al. 1984 Lewis 1959 Sjoeberg 1950 Thomas and Stiebris 1956 Vintinner et al. 1955). Brief exposure to vanadium dust can also cause conjunctivitis (Zenz et al. 1962). The other significant peripheral finding in some workers was a green discoloration of the tongue attributed to direct deposition of vanadium. Workers had no increases in dermatitis as compared to controls (Vintinner et al. 1955), but some workers had skin rashes (Orris et al. 1983). 

The only human data located found that workers chronically exposed to unspecified levels of vanadium dusts in factories showed no significant signs of allergic reactions on the skin or in the respiratory system (Sjoeberg 1950). This, however, cannot be considered to be an adequate evaluation of immunological function. 

Volunteers exposed acutely had no neurological complaints (Zenz and Berg 1967). Most workers exposed to vanadium dusts did not report major adverse neurological signs (Sjoeberg 1956 Vintinner et al. 1955). However, some workers complained of dizziness, depression, headache, or tremors of the fingers and arms (Levy et al. 1984 Vintinner et al. 1955), which may or may not have been specifically due to vanadium exposure. 

Respiratory Effects. The only significant, clearly documented, effect in humans is mild to moderate respiratory distress and mucosal irritation from exposure to vanadium dusts. Vanadium workers may have coughs, wheezing, chest pain, sore throats, or eye irritation, which can last for several days after exposure. These effects are common to many types of dust exposures. The effects are no more severe than those experienced during a routine upper respiratory tract infection and can sometimes be delayed for several hours after exposure. Chronic effects are not reported with regularity. Chest x-rays and urine and blood analyses in these people are normal. These workers often develop a green color on their tongues from direct accumulation of vanadium. 

Neurological Effects. Humans who have been exposed to vanadium dusts in the workplace have generally not reported significant effects related to the nervous system. Nonspecific effects such as dizziness or headaches have been reported by some workers. It is possible that the effects that vanadium has in inhibiting the sodium-potassium pump would adversely affect the nervous system, but this has not been tested and/or reported. Rats given intraperitoneal injections of vanadium showed lethargy and ataxia (Haider and Kashyap 1989), but the relevance of this to humans exposed by expected routes is not known. Vanadium does not accumulate in the brain of humans or animals. In the absence of animal data via relevant routes, the neurotoxicity of vanadium could not be fully assessed. 

Cancer. No studies regarding the carcinogenicity of vanadium in humans were located. Workers who have been exposed to vanadium dusts did not show an increased number of cancer deaths (Orris et al. 1983 Sjoeberg 1950 Vintinner et al. 1955), although detailed studies were not performed. 

Several biomarkers of exposure have been identified for vanadium but none of them can be used to quantitatively determine exposure levels. Vanadium is found in the urine of exposed workers. This measurement is specific for vanadium. Some vanadium workers develop a characteristic green tongue, as a result of direct accumulation of the vanadium dusts on the tongue (Lewis 1959). One report from the 1950s states that vanadium exposure was associated with decreased cystine content in the fingernails of vanadium workers (Mountain 1955). However, alterations in cystine levels can also be associated with dietary changes and with other disease states, so this is not specific for vanadium exposure. No other commonly measured cellular changes have been identified with vanadium exposure. 

The primary effects of exposure to vanadium dusts are coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory difficulties. These effects, however, are not specific to vanadium and can be found following inhalation of many types of dusts. 

No unusually susceptible populations have been identified, but persons with pre-existing respiratory disorders such as asthma may be expected to have increased adverse effects from breathing vanadium dusts. 

Sjoberg SG. 1956. Vanadium dust, chronic bronchitis and possible risk of emphysema. Acta Med Scand 154 381-386. 

Stokinger HE. 1955. Organic, beryllium and vanadium dusts. A review. American Medical Association Archives of Industrial Health 12 675-677. 

EINECS 231-171-1 HSDB 1022 Vanadium Vanadium (fume or dust) Vanadium dust Vanadium, elemental. Metallic element target material for x-rays, manufacture of alloy steels. Metal mp = 1917° dl8.7 = 6.11. Atomerg/c Chemetals Cerac Noah Chem. 

Synonyms Cl 77938 Vanadic acid anhydride Vanadic anhydride Vanadium dust and fume Vanadium oxide... 

Overall, these tests support the assumptions that exposure to vanadium dust causes irritating effects in the mucous membranes and the respiratory tract. 

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