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Vanadium dust
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 1314–62–1
NIOSH REL: 0.05 mg V/m3 15-minute CEILING
Current OSHA PEL: 0.5 mg V2O5/m3 (respirable dust) CEILING
1989 OSHA PEL: 0.05 mg V2O5/m3 (respirable dust) TWA
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.05 mg V2O5/m3 (respirable dust) TWA
Description of substance: Yellow-orange powder or dark-gray, odorless flakes dispersed in air.
LEL: . . Noncombustible Solid
Original (SCP) IDLH: 70 mg/m3 (as V2O5)
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that vanadium pentoxide dust at 70 mg/m3 is fatal to animals within a few hours [Hudson 1964]. AIHA [1957] reported that rabbits succumb from edema of the lungs at 200 mg/m3 after one 7-hour exposure [Sjoberg 1950].
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50 | LCLo | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat | Faulkner 1964 | —– | 500 mg/m3 | 23 min | 256 mg V/m3 (0.915) | 26 mg V/m3 |
| Rat | Izrael’son 1963 | —– | 70 mg/m3 | 2 hr | 63 mg V/m3 (1.6) | 6.3 mg V/m3 |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Arch Toxikol 1956 | oral | 10 | —– | 39 mg V/m3 | 3.9 mg V/m3 |
| Mouse | Izmerov et al. 1982 | oral | 23 | —– | 90 mg V/m3 | 9.0 mg V/m3 |
Human data: Respiratory irritation following exposures to V2O5 ranging from 1 to 48 mg V/m3 has been described in workers [Sjoberg 1955]. Vanadium intoxication (i.e., rhinorrhea, sneezing, lacrimation, and sore throat) has been reported in workers exposed to concentrations of V2O5 during the workshift ranging from 10 to 33 mg/m3 [Williams 1952]. Concentrations of V2O5 exceeding 56 mg V/m3 have resulted in local respiratory effects [Vintinner et al. 1955]. Other workers exposed intermittently to 56 mg V/m3 showed no evidence of intoxication [McTurk et al. 1956].
| Revised IDLH: 35 mg V/m3Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in workers [McTurk et al. 1956; Sjoberg 1955; Vintinner et al. 1955; Williams 1952], the revised IDLH for vanadium dust is 35 mg V/m3. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Vanadium (as V). In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 275-276.
2. AIHA [1957]. Vanadium pentoxide. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 18:172-173.
3. Arch Toxikol [1956]; 16:182-189 (in German).
4. Faulkner TG [1964]. Vanadium toxicology and biological significance. New York, NY: Elsevier Science Publishing Co., p. 72.
5. Hudson TGF [1964]. Vanadium: toxicology and biological significance. New York, NY: Elsevier Publishing Company, p. 75.
6. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 119.
7. Izrael’son ZI, ed. [1963]. Toxicology of the rare metals. Jerusalem, Israel: Israel Program for Scientific Translations.
8. McTurk LC, Hirs CHW, Eckard RE [1956]. Health hazards of vanadium-containing residual oil ash. Ind Med Surg 25:29-36.
9. Sjoberg S-G [1950]. Vanadium pentoxide dust: a clinical and experimental investigation on its effect after inhalation. Acta Med Scand Suppl 238:81-99.
10. Sjoberg SG [1955]. Vanadium bronchitis from cleaning oil-fired boilers. AMA Arch Ind Health 11:505-512.
11. Vintinner FJ, Vallenas R, Carlin CE, Weiss R, Macher C, Ochoa R [1955]. Study of the health of workers employed in mining and processing of vanadium ore. AMA Arch Ind Health 12:635-642.
12. Williams N [1952]. Vanadium poisoning from cleaning oil-fired boilers. Brit J Ind Med 9:50-55.