Vanadium Compounds

The Uses of Vanadium Compounds

The major use of vanadmm and its alloys is in the steel industry. when heated to decomposition they emit toxic fumes of vox. see also specific compounds.

Definition

All chemical compounds that contain vanadium.

Safety Profile

Variable toxicity. Vanadium compounds act chefly as an irritant to the conjunctiva and respiratory tract. Acute and chronic exposure can gve rise to conjunctivitis, rhinitis, reversible irritation of the respiratory tract, and to bronchitis, bronchospasms, and asthma-like dlseases in more severe cases. There is sull some controversy as to the effects of industrial exposure on other systems of the body. Responses are mostly acute, seldom chronic. The first report of human vanalum poisoning described rather widespread systemic effects, consisting of polycythemia, followed by red blood cell destruction and anemia, loss of appetite, pallor and emaciation, albuminuria and hematuria, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous complaints, and cough, sometimes severe enough to cause hemoptysis. More recent reports describe symptoms that, for the most part, are restricted to the conjunct- iva and respiratory system, no evidence being found of disturbances of the gastroin- testinal tract, kidneys, blood, or central nervous system. Vanadate (VO3-) is a potent inhibitor of the sodium pump, an enzyme universally present in eukaryotic organisms. The absorption of V2O5 by inhalation is nearly 100%. Though certain workers believe that it is only the pentoxide that is harmful, other investigators have found that patronite dust (chiefly vanadmm sulfide) is quite toxic to animals, causing acute pulmonary edema. Acute poisoning in animals by ingestion of vanadlum com- pounds causes nervous dlsturbances, paralysis of legs, respiratory fdure, convulsions, bloody darrhea, and death. Poisoning by inhalation causes bleeding of the nose and acute bronchtis. Some compounds have reported mutation effects. VF5 and the oxyhalogenides of pentavalent vanadium (VOF3, VOCl3, VOBr3) are volatile. Vanadmm compounds are common air contaminants. The fumes are highly toxic. The major use of vanadmm and its alloys is in the steel industry. When heated to decomposition they emit toxic fumes of VOx. See also specific compounds.