Air Force, Army, And Navy Personnel Are Exposed To Vanadium Compounds In The Air, On The Land, And On The Sea

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BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES: Biochemistry

Pro-Oxidant Biological Effects of Inorganic Component of Petroleum: Vanadium and Oxidative Stress

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Authors: Janusz Z. Byczkowski; Arun P. Kulkarni; MANTECH-GEOCENTERS JOINT VENTURE DAYTON OH

Abstract: Crude oil contains significant amounts of inorganic compounds of vanadium. Air Force, Army, and Navy personnel are exposed to vanadium compounds in the air, on the land, and on the sea, wherever petroleum fuel is used. Inorganic residue of fly ash resulting from combustion of some fuels may contain almost exclusively vanadium oxides. Unlike organic pollutants, vanadium is not biodegradable and it may build up in certain ecosystems to the level which may be toxic to living organisms. It has been estimated that as much as 66,000 tons of vanadium is released into the atmosphere each year. Particularly dramatic effects on the environment may result from massive incidental and/or intentional spilling of vanadium-containing crude oil into relatively confined ecosystems, as well as from massive oil burning. In addition to the vanadium exposure at the work place, the general population is also exposed increasingly to this metal, mostly as a result of increased utilization of vanadium-containing petroleum fuels. Vanadium-bearing particles may persist in the lungs for may years, raising the risk of chronic health effects. This report contains a review of the extensive literature on biochemical mechanisms of action of vanadium compounds, as well as the authors' own perspective, resulting from about two decades of laboratory research. This report provides information about adverse biological effects of vanadate, vanadium pentoxide, vanadyl, and other vanadium derivatives present in petroleum or formed during the fossil fuel combustion, on oxidative stress, cellular signal transduction, subcellular organelle functions, and on a possible interaction with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and chemical co- carcinogenesis.

Limitations: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Description: Interim rept. Oct 95-Aug 96

Pages: 38

Report Date: AUG 1996

Report number: A647063