Does speciation matter for tungsten ecotoxicology?

Does speciation matter for tungsten ecotoxicology?

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (2010-09-16)

Nikolay Strigul

PMID20839380

ABSTRACT

Tungsten is a widely used transition metal that has not been thoroughly investigated with regards to its ecotoxicological effects. Tungsten anions polymerize in environmental systems as well as under physiological conditions in living organisms. These polymerization/condensation reactions result in the development of several types of stable polyoxoanions. Certain chemical properties (in particular redox and acidic properties) differentiate these polyanions from monotungstates. However, our current state of knowledge on tungsten toxicology, biological and environmental effects is based entirely on experiments where monotungstates were used and assumed by the authors to be the form of tungsten that was present and that produced the observed effect. Recent discoveries indicate that tungsten speciation may be important to ecotoxicology. New results obtained by different research groups demonstrate that polytungstates develop and persist in environmental systems, and that polyoxotungstates are much more toxic than monotungstates. This paper reviews the available toxicological information from the standpoint of tungsten speciation and identifies knowledge gaps and pertinent future research directions.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

GF31722263

Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.05mm, coil width .51mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF67192544

Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.02mm, coil width .1mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF86574831

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.016mm, coil width .36mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF74075452

Tungsten, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.1mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF19334156

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.05mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF08123295

Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.08mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF53840099

Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.10mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF01998243

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width .75mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF14472514

Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .6mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF91197748

Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .6mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF13618155

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF49335015

Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.025mm, coil width 1mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF17364191

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.08mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF87677915

Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.08mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF32151541

Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .6mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF18352425

Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF42014078

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.6mm, coil width 1mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF42312305

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.02mm, coil width .1mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF06023067

Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF86869153

Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.10mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF02220567

Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF36484229

Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.04mm, coil width 0.7mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF42004707

Tungsten, foil, 5m coil, thickness 0.10mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF18740550

Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF68135025

Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.6mm, coil width 1mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF75205885

Tungsten, foil, 5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF76537547

Tungsten, foil, 5m coil, thickness 0.02mm, coil width .5mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF39616724

Tungsten, mesh, 50x50mm, nominal aperture 0.2mm, wire diameter 0.05mm, 100 wires/inch, open area 64%, plain weave mesh, 99.95%

GF49127014

Tungsten, insulated wire, 20m, conductor diameter 0.075mm, insulation thickness 0.02mm, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) insulation, 99.9%

GF22261823

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.005mm, 99.95%