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  • Assessment of the environmental toxicity and carcinogenicity of tungsten-based shot.

Assessment of the environmental toxicity and carcinogenicity of tungsten-based shot.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (2009-02-24)
Vernon G Thomas, Michael J Roberts, Paul T C Harrison
ABSTRACT

The toxicity of elemental tungsten released from discharged shot was assessed against previous studies that established a 1% toxic threshold for soil organisms. Extremely heavy theoretical shot loadings of 69,000shot/ha were used to generate estimated environmental concentrations (EEC) for two brands of tungsten-based shot containing 51% and 95% tungsten. The corresponding tungsten EEC values were 6.5-13.5mg W/kg soil, far below the 1% toxic threshold. The same shot loading in water produced tungsten EEC values of 2.1-4.4mg W/L, levels that are not toxic under experimental conditions. Pure tungsten has not been shown to exhibit carcinogenic properties when ingested or embedded in animal tissues, but nickel, with which it is often alloyed, has known carcinogenicity. Given the large number of waterfowl that carry shot embedded in their body, it is advisable to screen lead shot substitutes for their carcinogenic potential through intra-muscular implantation.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.05mm, coil width .51mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.02mm, coil width .1mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.016mm, coil width .36mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.1mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.05mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.08mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.10mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .6mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.025mm, coil width 1mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.08mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.08mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .6mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.6mm, coil width 1mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.02mm, coil width .1mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.10mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.04mm, coil width 0.7mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 5m coil, thickness 0.10mm, coil width .9mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.035mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.6mm, coil width 1mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, foil, 5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width 1.5mm, as rolled, 99.95%
Tungsten, mesh, 50x50mm, nominal aperture 0.2mm, wire diameter 0.05mm, 100 wires/inch, open area 64%, plain weave mesh, 99.95%
Tungsten, insulated wire, 20m, conductor diameter 0.075mm, insulation thickness 0.02mm, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) insulation, 99.9%
Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.005mm, 99.95%
Tungsten, insulated wire, 0.5m, conductor diameter 0.015mm, insulation thickness 0.002mm, polyimide insulation, 99.9%
Tungsten, wire reel, 100m, diameter 0.025mm, clean, 99.95%
Tungsten, rod, 200mm, diameter 3.0mm, centerless ground, 99.95%