Persistence of tungsten oxide particle/fiber mixtures in artificial human lung fluids

Background During the manufacture of tungsten metal for non-sag wire, tungsten oxide powders are produced as intermediates and can be in the form of tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) or tungsten blue oxides (TBOs). TBOs contain fiber-shaped tungsten sub-oxide particles of respirable or thoracic size. The ai...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Particle and fibre toxicology Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 38
Main Author: Stefaniak, Aleksandr B
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London BioMed Central 02.12.2010
BioMed Central Ltd
Springer Nature B.V
BMC
Subjects:
Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Biomimetic Materials - chemistry
Cobalt
Data collection
Development and progression
Dust
Environmental aspects
Environmental Health
Health aspects
Humans
Inhalation
Inhalation Exposure
Lung diseases
Macrophages
Metals
Nanotechnology
Occupational Exposure
Occupational safety
Oxides - analysis
Particulate Matter - analysis
Pharmacology/Toxicology
Physiological aspects
Pneumology/Respiratory System
Powders
Public Health
Risk factors
Solubility
Toxicity
Tungsten
Tungsten - analysis
United States
Conducting Airway
Dissolution Rate
Tungsten Oxide
Alveolar Region
Tungsten Metal
ISSN:1743-8977, 1743-8977
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Summary:Background During the manufacture of tungsten metal for non-sag wire, tungsten oxide powders are produced as intermediates and can be in the form of tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) or tungsten blue oxides (TBOs). TBOs contain fiber-shaped tungsten sub-oxide particles of respirable or thoracic size. The aim of this research was to investigate whether fiber-containing TBOs had prolonged biodurability in artificial lung fluids compared to tungsten metal or WO 3 and therefore potentially could pose a greater inhalation hazard. Methods Dissolution of tungsten metal, WO 3 , one fiber-free TBO (WO 2.98 ), and three fiber-containing TBO (WO 2.81 , WO 2.66 , and WO 2.51 ) powders were measured for the material as-received, dispersed, and mixed with metallic cobalt. Solubility was evaluated using artificial airway epithelial lining fluid (SUF) and macrophage phagolysosomal simulant fluid (PSF). Results Dissolution rates of tungsten compounds were one to four orders of magnitude slower in PSF compared to SUF. The state of the fiber-containing TBOs did not influence their dissolution in either SUF or PSF. In SUF, fiber-containing WO 2.66 and WO 2.51 dissolved more slowly than tungsten metal or WO 3 . In PSF, all three fiber-containing TBOs dissolved more slowly than tungsten metal. Conclusions Fiber-containing TBO powders dissolved more slowly than tungsten metal and WO 3 powders in SUF and more slowly than tungsten metal in PSF. Existing pulmonary toxicological information on tungsten compounds indicates potential for pulmonary irritation and possibly fibrosis. Additional research is needed to fully understand the hazard potential of TBOs.
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ISSN:1743-8977
1743-8977
DOI:10.1186/1743-8977-7-38