Vanadium

Category

Elements, Metallic

Description

Silver-white metal; [Hawley]

Sources/Uses

Vanadium compounds are found in the minerals patronite, roscoelite, carnotite and vanadinite; Used in steel alloys, x-ray machines, and catalysts; [Hawley] Used in alloys, catalysts, pigments (ceramics and glass), and in batteries; Combustion of oil and coal are the most important environmental sources; [Nordberg, p. 1349, 1363]

Comments

Less than 2% absorbed after ingestion; Primarily excreted by the kidneys; Essential mineral for some bacteria, but not known to be for humans; Reported use as a supplement by athletes and body builders; Rabbits and rats have liver injury after high-dose inhalation studies for 9-12 months; Kidney injury is observed in animals after intraperitoneal injections of vanadium; Animals dying from lethal doses have paralysis of hind limbs, respiratory depression, and convulsions; [Nordberg, p. 1347-63] See "Vanadium pentoxide."

Biomedical References

0.005 mg/m3, inhalable fraction (Vanadium and inorganic compounds)

Explanatory Notes

mp = 1900 degrees C; [Hawley]

12 days for rats to eliminate from the kidneys after drinking water containing VOSO4; [Nordberg, p. 911]

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Battery Manufacturing
• Glass Manufacturing
• Mining
• Steel Producing

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Ceramics making