Toxicity Profiles

RAGs A Format for Vanadium - CAS Number 7440622

Vanadium is a compound that occurs in nature as a white-to-gray metal and is often found as crystals. Pure vanadium has no smell and usually combines with other elements such as oxygen, sodium, sulfur, or chloride, which greatly alter toxicity. Vanadium and vanadium compounds can be found in the earth's crust and in rocks, some iron ores, and crude petroleum deposits. Vanadium is mostly combined with other metals to make special metal mixtures called alloys. Most of the vanadium used in the United States, vanadium oxide, is used to make steel for automobile parts, springs, and ball bearings. Vanadium oxide is a yellow-orange powder, dark-gray flakes, or yellow crystals. Vanadium is also mixed with iron to make important parts for aircraft engines. Small amounts of vanadium are used in making rubber, plastics, ceramics, and other chemicals.

Exposure to high levels of vanadium can cause harmful health effects. Vanadium compounds are poorly absorbed through the digestive system (0.5-2% of dietary amount), but slightly more readily absorbed through the lungs (20-25%). The major effects from breathing high levels of vanadium are on the lungs, throat, and eyes. Workers who breathed it for short and long periods sometimes had lung irritation, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, runny nose, and a sore throat. These effects stopped soon when removed from the contaminated air. Similar effects have been observed in animal studies. No other significant health effects of vanadium have been found in humans. The health effects in humans of ingesting vanadium are not known. Animals that ingested very large doses have died. Lower, but still high levels of vanadium in the water of pregnant animals resulted in minor birth defects. Some animals that breathed or ingested vanadium over a long term had minor kidney and liver changes.

There is no evidence that any vanadium compound is carcinogenic; however, very few adequate studies are available for evaluation. No increase in tumors was noted in a long-term animal study where the animals were exposed to vanadium in the drinking water. The Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified vanadium as to its human carcinogenicity.

The following is a presentation of the toxicity information associated with Vanadium.

Noncarcinogenic Health Effects

• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is 7.00E-03 (mg/kg-day).
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has a modifying factor of 1.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has an uncertainty factor of 100.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is based on the U.S. EPA study from 1987.

• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is 7.00E-05 (mg/kg-day).
• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.0100.

• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is 9.00E-03 (mg/kg-day).
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has a modifying factor of 1.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has an uncertainty factor of 100.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is based on the Stokinger et al.study from 1953.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose study critical effect is decreased hair cystine.
• The overall confidence in the Oral Chronic Reference Dose is low.

• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is 1.80E-03 (mg/kg-day).
• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.2000.

• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is 2.00E-02 (mg/kg-day).
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has a modifying factor of 1.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has an uncertainty factor of 100.
• The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is based on the U.S. EPA study from 1987.

• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is 4.00E-03 (mg/kg-day).
• The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.2000.