Abstract

GARCIA, Graciela Beatriz. Vanadium, an ambiguous element. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2006, vol.14, n.2, pp.32-36. ISSN 1851-3743.

Vanadium (V) occurs in about 68 minerals and in fossil fuels and it is mainly used in steel industry. Air pollution produced by oil and coal burning is the main exposure source for human beings. Reproductive and developmental toxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity have been found in some vanadium compound exposed animals. Nevertheless, the toxicological end-points of concern for humans are genotoxicity and respiratory tract irritation. On the other hand, V compounds have been studied as anti-diabetic, as antihypertensive, as anorexigen and as anti-carcinogenic. V, which has remarkable biological effects should be studied in order to elucidate its biological mechanisms and to determine either its expositional risks or its pharmacological properties for human benefit.

Keywords : Vanadium; Air pollution; Pharmacological use.

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