An Overview of Tungsten Toxicity

Abstract

Tungsten is a refractory metal that was aimed to replace lead and depleted uranium in military applications, such as its use in “green bullets.” Tungsten is a naturally occurring metal, but anthropogenic activities lead to increased distribution in the environment. Occupational exposure to tungsten is regulated by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), while the release of tungsten in water and air is not regulated. Hard metal lung disease is linked to occupational exposure to the hard metal, which is mainly composed of tungsten carbide and cobalt. The general population is at risk of exposure to tungsten via drinking contaminated water. Tungsten is used as a mixture with other metals in different industrial, medical, and military products to achieve specific properties for the designed products. The presence of other metals in tungsten-based products increases the complexity of studying tungsten toxicity. This chapter includes discussion on environmental concentrations of tungsten, different routes of exposure, toxicokinetics of soluble forms of tungsten, and potential health effects of different forms of tungsten.