Health effects of tungsten-Metalpedia

People can be exposed to low levels of tungsten by eating food, breathing air or drinking water that contains tungsten. They can also be exposed to tungsten by using consumer products containing tungsten, such as electronics, cemented tungsten carbide grinding wheels, etc. However, the possibility of health problems caused by tungsten-containing products is very small. Occupational exposure happens in the workplaces where people use tungsten-containing metals or are engaged in the production of these metals. Tungsten metal or tungsten carbide is the major form of exposure.

If people are exposed to tungsten, many factors will have to be taken into account when considering whether or not their health will be harmed. These factors include the dose, exposure duration, the manner of contact, people's age, sex and state of health, etc.
Acute health effects
The following acute (short-term) heath problems may occur shortly or immediately after exposure to tungsten:
•Contact with tungsten can irritate the skin and eyes. Irritation to the eyes will cause watering and redness and irritation to the skin will cause reddening, scaling and itching.
•Inhaling tungsten can irritate the nose and throat. It also has the potential for causing transient or permanent respiratory diseases, such as occupational asthma and interstitial fibrosis. The symptoms of these diseases are productive coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest-tightness and weight loss.
Chronic health effects
The following chronic (long-term) health effects may occur at some time after exposure to tungsten and can last for a long time:
•Repeated exposure to very high levels of tungsten may affect the lungs and mucus membranes.
•According to scientific research, exposure to tungsten can affect the growth of plants, cause reproductive problems in earthworms, and trigger premature death in certain aquatic animals. But whether or not tungsten can cause these chronic health effects in humans needs further study.

•Post hazard and warning information on tungsten in the workplace and communicate with potentially exposed workers about the available information on the health and safety impacts of tungsten.
•Don't eat food or drink water that has been contaminated by tungsten, and don't eat, drink or smoke where tungsten is processed or stored.
•Wear protective work clothing. If clothes are contaminated by tungsten, workers should change them and wash thoroughly at the end of the work shift before they go home.
•Emergency eye wash fountains or shower facilities should be offered by tungsten refining or processing factories.
•Use a vacuum or wet method to reduce tungsten heavy metal dust during clean-up.
•Workers whose job is related to tungsten should attend medical check-ups regularly.