A model of the distribution and retention of tungsten in the human body

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Abstract

Expanding industrial and military uses of tungsten could result in substantially increased levels of this metal in the environment in the next few years. Although occupational experiences and available toxicological studies on laboratory animals suggest that tungsten may have a relatively low order of toxicity, the data are weak and inconclusive. There is a need not only for more systematic studies of the behavior and effects of tungsten in different animal species but also for a reliable, biologically realistic biokinetic model for tungsten in man that can be used to relate concentrations of this metal in environmental media to concentrations in tissues of exposed persons and translate results of experimental studies into terms of environmental exposures. This paper is intended as a first step toward development of such a biokinetic model. Information related to the biokinetics of tungsten in mammalian species is examined, a biologically meaningful compartmental model structure is proposed, provisional transfer rates between compartments are selected, areas are identified where additional biokinetic data on tungsten are most needed and suggestions are made for further research into the biokinetics of tungsten.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)147-165
Number of pages19
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume206
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 5 1997

Funding

The work described in this document was sponsored by the US Department of the Army and US Environmental Protection Agency under Interagency Agreement DOE No. 1892-A078-A1 and Interagency Agreement DOE No. 1824-C148-A1, respectively, under contract DE-AC05-840R21400 with Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation.

Keywords

  • Biokinetics
  • Distribution
  • Excretion
  • Man
  • Model
  • Retention
  • Tungsten

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