Vanadium pentoxide

dium pentoxide in the workplace occurs during the refining and processing of vanadium-

rich mineral ores, during the burning of fossil fuels, especially petroleum, during the

handling of vanadium catalysts in the chemical manufacturing industry and during the

cleaning of oil-fired boilers and furnaces. Exposure to vanadium can also occur from

ambient air contaminated by the burning of fossil fuels and, at much lower levels, from

contaminated food and drinking-water.

5.2

Human carcinogenicity data

No data were available to the Working Group. 

5.3

Animal carcinogenicity data

Vanadium pentoxide was tested for carcinogenicity in a single study in mice and rats by

inhalation exposure. In both male and female mice, the incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar

neoplasms were significantly increased, and there were also increases in male rats. It was

uncertain as to whether a marginal increase in alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms in female rats

was related to exposure to vanadium pentoxide.

5.4

Other relevant data

Vanadium pentoxide is rapidly absorbed following inhalation, but poorly through

dermal contact or ingestion. Elimination from the lung is initially fast, but complete only

after several days. Lung retention can increase due to impaired health status of the lung.

Distribution of vanadium pentoxide is mainly to the bone and kidney.

The major non-cancer health effect associated with inhalation exposure to vanadium

pentoxide involves acute respiratory irritation, characterized as ‘boilermakers bronchitis’.

This clinical effect appears to be reversible. Green coloration of the tongue is another

frequently observed clinical manifestation of intoxication with vanadium pentoxide.

Vanadium has been recognized as an essential nutritional requirement in animals of

high order, but its function is not clear. Vanadium pentoxide has important effects on a

broad variety of cellular processes. It stimulates cell differentiation, it causes cell and

DNA injury via generation of reactive oxygen species and it alters gene expression. The

many biochemical effects induced by vanadium pentoxide, such as the inhibition of a

number of different enzymes, can explain many of the metabolic effects observed in

experimental animals treated with this compound.

Vanadium pentoxide can pass the blood–placenta barrier. It has been reported to be

teratogenic in rodents and it affects sexual development in pre-pubertal animals, the toxi-

city in males being greater than that in females. The reduced fertility seen in male mice

was confirmed by a reduction in sperm motility in vitro. 

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Vanadium pentoxide is mutagenic in vitro and possibly in vivo in mice. It shows clasto-

genic and aneugenic activity in cultured mammalian cells, the latter effect probably being

due to disturbance of spindle formation and chromosome segregation. Vanadium pentoxide

has been reported to inhibit enzymes involved in DNA synthesis and repair of DNA

damage. Data on genetic effects in humans exposed to vanadium pentoxide are scarce.

5.5

Evaluation

There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of vanadium pentoxide.

There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of vana-

dium pentoxide.

Overall evaluation

Vanadium pentoxide is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).

6.

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