Appendix K - Tungsten Information - STATES

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Fate and Transport of Tungsten at Camp Edwards
Small Arms Ranges
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JAY CLAUSEN, SUSAN TAYLOR, STEVEN LARSON, ANTHONY BEDNAR, MICHAEL
KETTERER, CHRIS GRIGGS, DENNIS LAMBERT, ALAN HEWITT, CHARLES
RAMSEY, SUSAN BIGL, RONALD BAILEY, and NANCY PERRON
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ERDC/CRREL TR-07-XX
March 2007
Fate and Transport of Tungsten at Camp Edwards Small Arms
Ranges
JAY CLAUSEN1, SUSAN TAYLORI, STEVEN LARSON2, ANTHONY BEDNAR2,
MICHAEL KETTERER3, CHRIS GRIGGS2, DENNIS LAMBERTI, ALAN HEWITTI,
CHARLES RAMSEy4, SUSAN BIGL1, RONALD BAILEy1, and NANCY PERRON1
1Engineer Research and Development Center
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
72 Lyme Road
Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
2Engineer Research and Development Center
Environmental Laboratory
3909 Halls Ferry Road
Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-6199
3Northern Arizona University
3828 North Steves Boulevard
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
4Envirostat Inc.
P. O. Box 636
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

ABSTRACT
Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, is the first of three military installations studied to assess the
distribution of tungsten at small arms ranges. This study focused on three ranges at Camp
Edwards: Bravo, Charlie, and India. Tungsten was present in surface soils up to 2,080 mg/kg.
The highest observed concentrations of tungsten occur in bullet pockets and soil eroded from
the berm face. Tungsten concentrations decreased in surface soils away from the berm in the
following order: berm face, trough, target, range floor, and firing point. The concentration of
tungsten in surface soils at the firing point is similar to background levels; i.e., 1.5 mg/kg.
Tungsten levels in subsurface soils decreased with depth with an order of magnitude or more
decrease in concentration within the top 25 em. However, samples collected at 150 em still had
tungsten levels above background. Tension Iysimeters, installed into the primary berm face and
the trough area, had dissolved tungsten up to 400 mg/L. The 24 Iysimeters did not exhibit
consistent tungsten concentration trends and no trend was evident with depth. However, the
concentration levels on the range were significantly elevated as compared to background. The
mean tungsten concentration for Iysimeters installed in background locations is 0.09 mg/L and
ranged between 0.011 to 0.169 mg/L. One out of three monitoring wells sampled had tungsten.
Concentrations varied from 0.0044 to 0.56 mg/L in a monitoring well screened at the water
table, approximately 37 m below ground surface, and located 10m downgradient of the Bravo
Range primary berm face. A monitoring well located between Bravo and Charlie Ranges and
several hundred meters downgradient had no reportable tungsten nor did two background wells.

iii ERDC/CRREL TR-07 -xx
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
BACKGROUN D 2
TUNGSTEN 2
TUNGSTEN PROJECTILE 2
CAMP EDWARDS 4
OBJECTIVES.. 5
CONCEPTUAL MODEL 6
METHODS 9
FIELD... 9
Site Selection 9
Sample Collection 13
Surface Soil 15
SubsurfaceSoil 18
Backgroundsamples 18
Water 18
Sample Preparation 19
_Soil...... ... ... ... ... 19
Water... ... ... 19
SAMPLE ANALySiS 20
SoiL.. ... 20
Water 20
Other Methods 21
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL 23
STANDARDS 23
Soil 23
Water... 23
RESULTS 30
FIELD MEASUREMENTS 30
Soil 30
Bravo (B) Range 30
Charlie (C) Range 31
India (I) Range 31
Background 39
Water... 39
Soil Pore-Water (Lysimeters) 39
Groundwater 42
Background 44
LABORATORY TESTS 48
DigestionTechniques 48
Characteristicsof Tungstenand Camp Edwards Soil 48
X-Ray Diffraction 48
Scanning ElectronMicroscope 48

iv ERDC/CRRELTR-07-XX
Solubility Tests 48
Batch tests 48
Dissolution Experiments 49
DISCUSSION ...51
DISTRIBUTIONOF TUNGSTEN 51
FATEANDTRANSPORTOF TUNGSTEN 53
MASSBALANCE ...... 54
X-RAY FLUORESCENCEVERSUSINDUCTIVELYCOUPLEDPLASMA 55
CONCLUSIONS ... ... ...56
RECOMMENDATIONS 56
REFERENCES 57
IllUSTRATIONS
Figure 1. Schematic and photograph of 5.56 mm tungsten/nylon projectile. 3
Figure 2. photograph oftungsten/nylon core. 3
Figure 3. Schematic of a typical small arms firing range. 6
Figure 4. Example of a bullet pocket located behind a target. 7
Figure 5. Small ARMS firing Ranges at camp edwards. 11
Figure 6. Bravo "B" Range at Camp Edwards. 12
Figure 7. Charlie "C" Range at Camp Edwards. 12
Figure 8. India "I" Range at Camp Edwards. 13
Figure 9. Decision units for Bravo Range and number of surface soil samples collected. 14
Figure 10. Decision units for Charlie Range and number of surface soil samples collected. 14
Figure 11. Decision units for India Range and number ofsurface soil samples collected. 15
Figure 12. Subsurface soil sample corer. 16
Figure 13. Bravo Range surface soil tungsten concentrations (mg/kg) by decision unts. 33
Figure 14. Bravo Range subsurface soil tungsten concentrations (mg/kg). 34
Figure 15. Charlie Range surface soil tungsten concentrations (mg/kg) by decision unts 36
Figure 16. Charlie Range subsurface soil tungsten concentrations (mg/kg). 36
Figure 17. India Range surface soil tungsten concentrations (mg/kg) by decision unts. 38
Figure 18. India Range subsurface soil tungsten concentrations (mg/kg). 38
Figure 19. Tungsten pore-water trends for Bravo Range Iysimeters. 40
Figure 20. Lysimeter tip depth (in bgs) versus mean tungsten concentrations. 42
Figure 21. Location of Monitoring wells sampled for the tungsten fate-and-transport study. 43
Figure 22. Desorption batch experiment Assessing the relationship between tungsten soil
concentrations and water tungsten concentrations. 49
Figure 23. Tungsten pore-water trends for Charlie Range Iysimeters. 52
Figure 24. Tungsten pore-water trends for India Range Iysimeters. 52
TABLES
Table 1. number of tungsten/nylon rounds fired at Camp Edwards and total mass of tungsten by
small arms firing range per training year. 10
Table 2. Number of surface and subsurface samples collected at B, C and I RangeS at Camp

v ERDC/CRREL TR-07 -xx
Edwards. 16
Table 3. quality control elements, frequency of implementation, and acceptance criteria followed
for analysis of tungsten and heavy metals in soils and waters. 25
Table 4. quality control sample results. 27
Table 5. Bravo Range surface soil samples. 32
Table 6. Charlie Range surface soil samples. 35
Table 7. India Range surface soil samples. 37
Table 8. Lysimeter tungsten results (mg/I). 41
Table 9. Groundwater tungsten results 46
Table 10. Concentration of tungsten in water dripped onto tungsten/ nylon bullet. 50

56
CONCLUSIONS
ERDC/CRREL TR-07 -xx
Tungsten is present in the surface soils of three small arms ranges at Camp Edwards. The level
of tungsten in subsurface soils (generally less than 1 mg/kg) is significantly less than surface
soils and decreases with depth. Soil pore-water in the unsaturated zone beneath the bullet
pockets and trough areas has tungsten at levels that appear to correspond to the surface soil
concentrations and range usage. Tungsten is present in one monitoring well located
downgradient of the berm on B Range. Field and laboratory results indicate that the tungsten
from the tungsten/nylon bullets is rapidly dissolved with solubility levels approaching several
hundred mg/L. As tungsten metal is insoluble, we hypothesize that the small particles of
tungsten in the bullets have oxidized and that we are dissolving tungsten oxides. Relatively high
levels of tungsten (up to 400 mg/L) in the unsaturated zone pore water at depths up to 65 cm
indicates tungsten is mobile through these sandy, acidic, aerobic soils. The presence of
tungsten in groundwater at Camp Edwards indicates relatively rapid migration through the
unsaturated zone. Results from nanopore sieving tests and HPLC GC tests suggest that the
mobile form of tungsten is a tungstate anion, however, we cannot yet rule out a polytungstate
form. Rapid migration indicates that the tungsten carried in the pore water is not retarded by
sorption possibly because the clay content of Camp Edwards soils is low. Ground water impacts
are possible for those installations with shallow depth to ground water and sandy soils. Surface
water impacts are possible in temperate environments where surface water drains off the small
arms range. Migration of tungsten from small arms ranges can be expected from sites with
significant amounts of precipitation such as the Eastern United States or coastal regions of the
Western United States with delayed impacts in arid environments.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As outlined in the Final Proposal Addressing Tungsten Fate and Transport at Camp Edwards
dated May 25, 2006 additional studies are recommended to assess the fate and transport of
tungsten at Camp Edwards. This additional work has been funded and will be focused on
mapping the extent of tungsten in ground water at B Range, experimental work quantifying the
dissolution rate and adsorption/desorption kinetics of tungsten on Camp Edwards soil,
unsaturated and saturated zone modeling to assess the transport rates, and tungsten speciation
studies to identify the aqueous form present in the environment.
For the dissolution experiments, the next step is to standardize the experimental methods and
run a series of tests using different soil:solution ratios. A test using aqueous sodium tungstate
standard solution also is necessary to test whether tungsten is lost during sample preparation.
One activity planned as part of the second phase of the tungsten study at Camp Edwards is to
more rigorously establish the background level of tungsten in the soil pore-water and
groundwater. We plan to install several additionallysimeters in remote locations to ascertain the
background level of tungsten. In addition, we plan to sample up to a dozen additional
background monitoring wells (to be identified in cooperation with the IAGWSP) to determine the
natural background level of tungsten in the environment.

ATSDR
AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES
AND DISEASE REGISTRY
TUNGSTEN
CAS # 7440-33-7
Division of Toxicology ToxFAQs' \1 August 2005
This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about tungsten. For more
information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series
of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. It is important you understand this
information because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance
depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other
chemicals are present.
Ii
IDGHLIGHTS: Thngsten is a naturally occurring element. Exposure to very
low levels of tungsten may occur by breathing air, eating food, or drinking
water that contains tungsten. No specific health effects have been associated
with exposure to tungsten in humans. Exposure to high levels of tungsten is
unlikely. Thngsten has been founa in at least 6 of the 1,662 National Priority
List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What is tungsten?
Tungsten is a naturally occurring element. It occurs in rocks
and minerals combined with other chemicals, but never as a
pure metal. Elemental tungsten is a white to steel gray metal
(depending on the purity) that can be used in pure form or
mixed with other metals to make alloys. Tungsten alloys
tend to be strong and flexible, resist wear, and conduct
electricity well. Tungsten is used in products such as x-ray
tubes, light bulbs, high-speed tools, welding electrodes,
turbine blades, golf clubs, darts, fishing weights, gyroscope
wheels, phonograph needles, bullets, and armor penetrators.
Tungsten is also used as a catalyst to speed up chemical
reactions.
Chemical compounds of tungsten are used for many
purposes. Cemented tungsten carbide is a hard substance
used to make grinding wheels and cutting or forming tools.
Other tungsten compounds are used in ceramic pigments, as
fire retardant coatings for fabrics, and as color-resistant dyes
for fabrics.
What happens to tungsten when it enters the
environment?
D Tungsten is an element that exists naturally in the environment.
D It is an element that cannot be formed or destroyed.
D Tungsten in water comes mainly from water dissolving
tungsten from rocks and soil that it runs over or through.
D Tungsten in air comes from the weathering of rocks, from the
mining of tungsten ore, or from emissions from industries making
tungsten metal or hard metal products.
D Tungsten particles in air can settle out onto soil, water, or
plant surfaces, or they can be brought down in rain or snow.
D Water and air are not normally tested for tungsten.
D If coal ash, incinerator ash, or industrial waste contains high
levels of tungsten, it can increase the levels in soil with which
it is mixed.
D Most tungsten in soil binds with the soil and will not reach
groundwater.
D As soil conditions change, tungsten may dissolve out of soil
and rocks in one location and bind back to soil and rocks in
another location.
How might I be exposed to tungsten?
D You can be exposed to very low levels of tungsten by breathing
air, eating food, or drinking water that contains tungsten. Urban
air generally contains more tungsten than rural air.
D In general, exposure to tungsten from air, drinking water, and
food is expected to be very small.
D Air normally contains less than 10 nanograms of tungsten
per cubic meter (a nanogram is I billionth of a gram).
D Occupational exposure to higher than background levels of
tungsten may occur if you use tungsten metal or are engaged
in the machining of these metals. Occupational exposure to
tungsten carbide occurs during the machining of tungsten
carbide tools in the manufacturing process.
U.s. DEPART'IE;\"T OF 111'::\1.1'11 A:\"D IIL'L\;\" SERVICES, I'uhlic Health Service
Agency for Toxic Suhstanccs and Disease Registry

Page 2
--
ToxFAQs1\1 Internet address is http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html
o Tungsten metal and metal alloys occur in consumer products
such as electronics, light bulb filaments, cemented tungsten
carbide grinding wheels and carbide tipped tools. They are also
present in "green bullets" that are made without lead.
How can tungsten affect my health?
Tungsten compounds have caused breathing problems and
changed behavior in some animals given large amounts of
tungsten compounds. However, you are not likely to be
exposed to amounts of tungsten in the air you breathe or the
food or water you take into your body that would be large
enough to cause similar effects.
How likely is tungsten to cause cancer?
There is not enough information to determine whether
inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure to tungsten or tungsten
compounds can cause cancer in humans. Tungsten has not
been classified for carcinogenic effects by the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), or the EPA.
Tungsten has been recommended to the National Toxicology
Program (NTP) for testing in laboratory animals, which
includes a cancer assessment.
How can tungsten affect children?
Children may be affected in the same way as adults. We do
not know whether children differ from adults in their
susceptibility to tungsten. Animal studies have shown that
tungsten can pass from the maternal blood through the
placenta and reach the fetus.
How can families reduce the risks of exposure to
tungsten?
o It is very unlikely that tungsten is present in the average
home or apartment at unsafe levels.
o Use bottled water if you have concerns about the
presence of tungsten in your tap water.
TUNGSTEN
CAS # 7440-33-7
o If you get tungsten dust on your clothes, shower and
change your clothes before leaving your job and returning
home.
Is there a medical test to determine whether I've
been exposed to tungsten?
Tests are available to measure tungsten in your blood, urine,
hair, saliva, and feces. These tests are not usually done in
the doctor's office because they require special equipment.
Elevated levels of tungsten in the feces can mean high
recent tungsten exposure. Elevated levels of tungsten in the
urine and/or blood can mean high tungsten consumption
and/or high exposure. The average urine concentration for
the U.S. population was 0.083 ~g/L in 2003.
Has the federal government made
recommendations to protect human health?
For tungsten and insoluble tungsten compounds in air, the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) recommends an exposure limit of5 mg/m3 (average
over a to-hour period) and a short-term (15 minutes)
exposure limit of 10 mg/m3. The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) set limits for tungsten of
5 mglm3 (insoluble compounds) and I mg/m3 (soluble
compounds) for construction and shipyard industries.
References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR). 2005. Toxicological Profile for Tungsten Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service.
Where can I get more information? For more information, contact the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, Division ofToxicology, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32, Atlanta, GA 30333. Phone: 1-888-422-
8737, FAX: 770-488-4178. ToxFAQs Internet address via WWW is http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html. ATSDR can
tell you where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize, evaluate, and
treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions or concerns.

--.....--
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
FACT SHEET: TUNGSTEN ANDTUNGSTEN COMPOUNDS
General Information on Tungsten Occurrence and Use
Tungsten is a solid, white or grey colored metal that occurs naturally in rocks and soil as a trace mineral.
It is relatively inert, has the highest melting point of all metals, and can be used as a pure metal or
mixed with other metals to make alloys. High tensile strength tungsten (hard metal) is an alloy that is
composed of tungsten carbide and cobalt and has a variety of uses. Tungsten alloys are good conductors
of electricity, are used primarily to increase the toughness and strength of steel, and to make filaments
for electric lighting, as part of electron tubes such as TV, radio, and x-ray tubes, and in armor penetrators
(as a substitute for depleted uranium). Tungsten and tungsten alloys are also used as laboratory
chemicals. The most common tungsten compound, cemented tungsten carbide, is a hard substance used
to make grinding wheels and cutting or forming tools. Tungsten powder is used as a lead replacement in
bullets. Other tungsten compounds are used in ceramic pigments, as fire retardant coatings for fabrics,
and as color-resistant dyes for fabrics.
Fate and Transport of Tungsten in the Environment
Tungsten enters the environment as a result of normal breakdown of minerals in rocks and soil from
exposure to wind, water and also from human activities such as mining and metal processing. Very
small particles of tungsten can be emitted into the air from natural sources and from metal industries.
The concentration of tungsten particles in the ambient air is generally low. However, concentrations in
urban air may be higher than in rural surroundings because of release from industrial sources. Tungsten
in water can occur from dissolution of tungsten from rocks and sediments, and from industrial discharge
of wastewater. Tungsten has not been detected in the vast majority of surface and ground waters
of the United States with the exception of sites near mines and natural deposits. Tungsten in soil occurs
naturally as a mineral component of soil. Levels in soils can increase from disposal of incinerator and
coal ash and industrial wastes. The soluble forms of tungsten in the soil can dissolve in water and move
into the ground water while the insoluble forms remain bound to the soil. In some cases, waterinsoluble
tungsten compounds can be transformed to soluble forms in the environment.
How Exposure to Tungsten Can Occur
A person can be exposed to tungsten from breathing air, eating food and drinking water that is contaminated
with this substance. Although the data on skin exposure are limited, it is suggested to be a possible
route of exposure. Although the data on levels of tungsten in the various media are limited, it is expected
that exposure to tungsten from air, water and food is insignificant. However, people living near
industries that process or use tungsten or its compounds, and those living near locations that contain
high levels of tungsten may have higher exposures. Substantial exposure to tungsten could also occur in
occupational settings. Those exposures are usually to tungsten metal or tungsten compounds. Exposures
from consumer products containing tungsten (light bulb filaments, cemented tungsten carbide grinding
wheels, carbide tipped tools etc.) are not well studied, however with a long history of use oftungsten in
these products no adverse effects have been noted.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STANDARDS

-- --
Entry to and Elimination from the Body
Tungsten that enters the body associated with food and drinking water is rapidly taken up into the blood
and transported into all parts of the body. It is then eliminated from the body through the urine. Much
of the tungsten that did not go into the blood stream from the inhalation or ingestion pathways leaves
the body through the feces. A small amount of the tungsten that enters the blood may go into the bones,
hair and fingernails and stay there for a while. Some of this tungsten slowly leaves the body through the
urine and feces. Tungsten in the blood of a pregnant mother can enter the blood of the fetus in the
womb. Tungsten may also enter the milk which could be a route of exposure for breastfeeding infants.
Health Effects of Tungsten and Its Compounds
The toxicity of tungsten, like any toxin, depends on the route of administration, the chemical form of
the metal, the dose, the solubility of tungsten compounds and the duration of exposure. The more soluble
tungsten compounds (e.g., sodium tungstate) appear to be more toxic than the insoluble ones (e.g.,
tungsten carbide and tungsten oxides).
Tungsten has no known beneficial effects on human health. Work in occupations with exposures to
"hard" metals, which include but are not limited to tungsten, has been associated with a variety of
adverse effects. Workers in the hard metal industry where tungsten alloys containing other metals such
as such as cobalt breathed air containing tUnf!stenand other substances had elevated levels of
pulmonary fibrosis (scaring oflung tissues), and other respiratory effects including asthma,
inflammation of tissues of the nose, and lung cancer. Memory loss and impaired vision and hearing
have been associated with work in metal industries using tungsten and other metals. It is generally
believed that health effects observed in hard metal workers are the result of exposure to cobalt and not
tungsten. However, studies conducted in animals that were exposed to tungsten by inhalation or orally
also suggest that tungsten metal could be toxic to the respiratory and nervous systems. There are some
animal data that suggest that tungsten could cause adverse developmental and reproductive effects. An
intermediate duration study in animals indicated that tungsten is toxic to the kidneys. At high
concentrations tungsten compounds may cause eye and skin irritation and contact dermatitis.
The cancer causing potential of tungsten and its toxicity to the genetic material (genotoxicity) has not
been extensively assessed. Sodium tungstate was found to be genotoxic in some test systems and nongenotoxic
in some other test systems. In a single study, orally administered sodium tungstate was found
not to be carcinogenic in rats. In other studies, soluble tungsten enhanced the carcinogenic potential of
other known carcinogens. Tungsten alloy containing nickel and cobalt implanted in the muscle of rats
produced cancers at the site of implantation. The cancerous cells metastasized to the lungs. Nickel implanted
in rats also produced the same kind of muscle tumor, however, there were no metastases to the
lungs.
Recent information from Nevada has drawn attention to tungsten's potential toxicity. Data have shown
elevated tungsten body burdens in residents of Fallon, NV (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/Fallon),
increased tungsten content in tree core samples in Sierra Vista, AZ and a childhood leukemia cluster in
both communities (and also a nearby military base). Exposures to tungsten have not been conclusively
linked to the cancers at either location. This information and the overall limited database on tungsten's
toxicity have led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Environmental
Health (NCEH) to recommend tungsten and tungsten compounds for toxicology and carcinogenesis
studies (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntplhtdocs/Chem_Background/ExSumPdf/tungsten.pdf.).Animal
studies are now a priority for toxicology testing under the National Toxicology Program.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STANDARDS 2

Health Effects of Tungsten and Its Compounds to Children
Although all health effects of tungsten observed in adults are of potential concern in children, children
sometimes differ from adults in their susceptibility to hazardous chemicals. It is not known whether
there is a difference in sensitivity to tungsten between adults and children. Although most of the exposure
pathways for children are the same as those for adults, children may be at a higher risk of exposure
than adults because of differences in body size, respiration rate, food intake, and increased hand to
mouth activity. Tungsten exposure to the mother is also of potential concern to the fetus, as animal
studies have shown transfer of tungsten from the mother to the fetus, and possible developmental effects
in the fetus. Studies in dairy cows have indicated that tungsten may enter breast milk.
Measures to Reduce Risks from Exposure to Tungsten
If you live in an area with a high level of tungsten in the water or soil, substituting cleaner sources of
water and limiting contact with soil (for example, through use of a dense groundcover or thick lawn)
would reduce family exposure to tungsten. By paying careful attention to dust and dirt control in the
home (air filters, ftequent cleaning), you can reduce family exposure to contaminated dirt. Some children
eat a lot of dirt. You should prevent your children from eating dirt. You should discourage your
children ftom putting objects (including their hands) in their mouths. Make sure they wash their hands
frequently, especially before eating. It is sometimes possible to carry tungsten ftom work on your clothing,
skin, hair, tools, or other objects removed from the workplace, (especially if you work in hard
metal or tungsten smelting industries). Reduce exposure of family members by showering and changing
clothes before you leave work, and storing your street clothes in separate area of the work place, or
laundering your work clothes at home separately ftom other clothes.
Medical Evaluation to Determine Exposure to Tungsten
You should consult your doctor if you are concerned about your exposure to tungsten. There are laboratories
that can measure the amount of total tungsten in the blood, urine, saliva, and feces to determine if
exposure to tungsten has occurred. These tests can tell if you have been recently exposed to tungsten.
Long-term exposure to tungsten can be measured in hair and nails.
Regulatory Measures to Protect Human Health
There are few guidelines for tungsten and tungsten compounds set by U.S. federal agencies. In the international
community, the old Soviet Union established a 50 ppb (micrograms per liter, ~g/L) drinking
water limit.
For occupational exposure situations in the US, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended air exposure limit (REL) for tungsten and insoluble
tungsten compounds for workers (I O-hour time weighted average concentration) of 5 mg/m3 and a
short-term exposure limit (STEL; IS-minute time weighted average) of 10 mg/m3. The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established permissible occupational air exposure limits
(PELs; 8-hour time weighted average) for tungsten of 5 mg/m3(insoluble compounds) and I mg/m3
(soluble compounds) for construction and shipyard industries.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STANDARDS 3

--- - --
...Regulatory Measures to Protect Human Health continued
Neither the United States Environmental Agency (US EPA), the MassDEP nor other federal and state
agencies have set regulations or guidelines to regulate tungsten in the ambient air, drinking water, or
soil, because of inadequacies in the toxicity database. As noted above, tungsten was recently nominated
for toxicity testing under the National Toxicology Program. Additionally, the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) revised the Priority Testing List by adding
20 tungsten compounds.
June 2006
Contact for More Information
If you have any morequestionsor concerns,pleasecontactMassDEPat 617-292-5998or 617-292-5842.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STANDARDS 4