Appendix K - Tungsten Information - STATES

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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
Page 1 and 2: NOIJ..VWHO.!lNI N:ilJ..S~Ni1J.. :)1
Page 3 and 4: ERDC/CRREL TR-07-XX March 2007 Fate
Page 5 and 6: iii ERDC/CRREL TR-07 -xx TABLE OF C
Page 7 and 8: v ERDC/CRREL TR-07 -xx Edwards. 16
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Appendix K - Tungsten Information - STATES

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