ContaminantDB: Vanadium

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (47)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-06 18:58:16 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 19:39:03 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000176

Identification

Common Name

Vanadium

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Vanadium is a steel-grey, corrosion-resistant metal, which exists in oxidation states ranging from -1 to +5. Metallic vanadium does not occur in nature, and the most common valence states are +3, +4, and +5. The pentavalent form (VO3-) predominates in extracellular body fluids whereas the quadrivalent form (VO+2) is the most common intracellular form. Because of its hardness and its ability to form alloys, vanadium (i.e., ferrovanadium) is a common component of hard steel alloys used in machines and tools. Although most foods contain low concentrations of vanadium (< 1 ng/g), food is the major source of exposure to vanadium for the general population. High air concentrations of vanadium occur in the occupation setting during boiler-cleaning operations as a result of the presence of vanadium oxides in the dust. The lungs absorb soluble vanadium compounds (V2O5) well, but the absorption of vanadium salts from the gastrointestinal tract is poor. The excretion of vanadium by the kidneys is rapid with a biological half-life of 20-40 hours in the urine. Physiologically, it exists as an ion in the body. Vanadium is probably an essential trace element, but a vanadium-deficiency disease has not been identified in humans. The estimated daily intake of the US population ranges from 10-60 micrograms V. Vanadyl sulfate is a common supplement used to enhance weight training in athletes at doses up to 60 mg/d. In vitro and animal studies indicate that vanadate and other vanadium compounds increase glucose transport activity and improve glucose metabolism. In general, the toxicity of vanadium compounds is low. Pentavalent compounds are the most toxic and the toxicity of vanadium compounds usually increases as the valence increases. Most of the toxic effects of vanadium compounds result from local irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract rather than systemic toxicity. The only clearly documented effect of exposure to vanadium dust is upper respiratory tract irritation characterized by rhinitis, wheezing, nasal hemorrhage, conjunctivitis, cough, sore throat, and chest pain. Case studies have described the onset of asthma after heavy exposure to vanadium compounds, but clinical studies to date have not detected an increased prevalence of asthma in workers exposed to vanadium. Vanadium is a trace element present in practically all cells in plants and animals. It exerts interesting actions in living systems. At pharmacological doses, vanadium compounds display relevant biological actions such as mimicking insulin and growth factors as well as having osteogenic activity. Some vanadium compounds also show antitumoral properties. The importance of vanadium in bone arises from the studies developed to establish the essentiality of this element in animals and humans. Bone tissue, where the element seems to play an important role, accumulates great amounts of vanadium. Among several metals, vanadium has emerged as an extremely potent agent with insulin-like properties. These insulin-like properties have been demonstrated in isolated cells, tissues, different animal models of type I and type II diabetes as well as a limited number of human subjects. Vanadium treatment has been found to improve abnormalities of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and of gene expression in rodent models of diabetes. In isolated cells, it enhances glucose transport, glycogen and lipid synthesis, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and lipolysis. The molecular mechanism responsible for the insulin-like effects of vanadium compounds have been shown to involve the activation of several key components of insulin-signaling pathways that include the mitogen-activated-protein kinases (MAPKs) extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/protein kinase B (PKB). (6, 7, 8)

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Urine
HPV EPA Chemicals
T3DB toxins

Contaminant Type

Food Toxin
Human Neurotoxin
Inorganic Compound
Metabolite
Metal
Natural Compound
Vanadium Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
V(3+)	ChEBI
VANADIUM ion	ChEBI
Vanadium(III)	ChEBI
Vanadium, ion(3+)	ChEBI

Chemical Formula

Average Molecular Mass

50.942 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

50.944 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

7440-62-2

IUPAC Name

vanadium

Traditional Name

vanadium(3+) ion

SMILES

[V+3]

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/V/q+3

InChI Key

KOKKJWHERHSKEB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as homogeneous transition metal compounds. These are inorganic compounds containing only metal atoms,with the largest atom being a transition metal atom.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Homogeneous metal compounds

Class

Homogeneous transition metal compounds

Sub Class

Not Available

Direct Parent

Homogeneous transition metal compounds

Alternative Parents

Not Available

Substituents

Homogeneous transition metal

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

vanadium cation (CHEBI:49948 )
monoatomic trication (CHEBI:49948 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Not Available

Biological Roles

micronutrient

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

Grey metallic solid.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	1910°C
Boiling Point	3380°C (6116°F)
Solubility	Not Available

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
logP	0	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	3	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	0 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	1.78 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-0udi-9000000000-04cac363fba8baca3d60	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-0udi-9000000000-04cac363fba8baca3d60	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-0udi-9000000000-04cac363fba8baca3d60	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-0002-9000000000-f32cb636023329dd9052	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-0002-9000000000-f32cb636023329dd9052	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0002-9000000000-f32cb636023329dd9052	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral (14) ; inhalation (14) ; dermal (14)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Vanadium damages alveolar macrophages by decreasing the macrophage membrane integrity, thus impairing the cell's phagocytotic ability and viability. The pentavalent form of vanadium, vanadate, is a potent inhibitor of the Ca+-ATPase and Na+,K+-ATPase of plasma membranes, which decreases intracellular ATP concentration. Vanadium is also believed to induce the production of reactive oxygen species. This may damage DNA and also cause oxidative stress, which can damage the reproductive system. Vanadium also inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatases, producing insulin-like effects. (14, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Metabolism

Vanadium is absorbed mainly via inhalation, though small amounts can be absorbed through the skin and gastrointestional tract. It is rapidly distributed in the plasma, mainly to the kidney, liver, lungs, heart, bone, where it tends to accumulate. With the help of cytochrome P-450 enzymes, it can interconvert between its two oxidation states, vanadyl (V+4) and vanadate (V+5). Both states of vanadium can reversibly bind to transferrin protein in the blood and then be taken up into erythrocytes. Vanadium is excreted mainly in the urine. (14)

Toxicity Values

Not Available

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

Uses/Sources

Vanadium is mainly used to produce specialty steel alloys such as high speed tool steels. It is also mixed with iron to make important parts for aircraft engines, and small amounts are used in making rubber, plastics, ceramics, and other chemicals. (14, 15)

Minimum Risk Level

Acute Inhalation: 0.0002 mg/m3 (13) Intermediate Oral: 0.003 mg/kg/day (13)

Health Effects

Breathing high levels of vanadium affects the lungs, throat, and eyes. Ingestion of vanadium may cause kidney and liver damage, birth defects, or death. (14)

Symptoms

Inhalation of vanadium causes lung irritation, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, runny nose, and a sore throat. (14)

Treatment

Not Available

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

HMDB0002503

FooDB ID