A review of tungsten: From environmental obscurity to scrutiny
Abstract
Since its discovery, tungsten, a transition element of Group VIb of the Periodic Table of Elements, and its compounds have been considered environmentally benign. Its presence in biological and drinking water samples in Fallon, Nevada, an acute lymphocytic leukemia cluster struck community has alarmed public health, environmental and regulatory agencies. Tungsten, a metal of extraordinary properties that make it hardly substitutable, is considered an essential commodity with a wide variety of uses stretching from household necessities to highly specialized applications. This work is undertaken in order to explore aspects of environmental behavior of tungsten and its compounds. Occurrence data in terrestrial, atmospheric, aquatic and biotic systems are presented. Various aspects of environmental chemistry, fate transport across environmental interfaces and toxicology are discussed with the objective of identifying knowledge gaps and outlining directions for future research.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Pub Date:
- January 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.11.007
- Bibcode:
- 2006JHzM..136....1K
- Keywords:
-
- ACGIH;
- American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists;
- ALL;
- acute lymphocytic leukemia;
- BCF;
- bioconcentration factor;
- BLM;
- biotic ligand model;
- BTF;
- biotransfer factor for a food product;
- BSAF;
- biota/sediment accumulation factor;
- dimensionless;
- CDC;
- Centers of Disease Control;
- CF;
- soil-to-plant concentration factor of W;
- DOM;
- dissolved organic matter;
- EEC;
- effective environmental concentration;
- EPA;
- environmental protection agency;
- EqP;
- equilibrium partitioning;
- ITC;
- interagency testing committee;
- LD <SUB loc="post">50</SUB>;
- lethal dose killing 50% of a group of test organisms;
- NCEH;
- National Center for Environmental Health;
- NIEHS;
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Netherlands);
- NIOSH;
- National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health;
- NTP;
- National Toxicology Program;
- OSHA;
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
- PEL;
- permissible exposure limits;
- PM <SUB loc="post">2.5</SUB>;
- particulate matter of size smaller than 2.5 μm;
- ppb;
- parts per billion;
- ppm;
- parts per million;
- STEL;
- short-term exposure limits;
- TLV;
- threshold limit values;
- TSCA;
- Toxic Substances Control Act;
- TWA;
- time weighted average;
- Tungsten;
- Environmental behavior;
- Fate and transport;
- Toxicology