This study has undertaken the most comprehensive analysis of the human health effects of tungsten to date, finding that individuals with higher urinary tungsten concentrations have double the odds of reported stroke.
The research used data from six waves of the US based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), examining urinary measures of tungsten for 8614 participants aged between 18 and 74, over a 12 year period. This dataset is representative of the US population.
The research team study used adjusted logistic regression models to investigate the association between stroke and tungsten concentration, and cardiovascular disease and tungsten concentration, independent of classical risk factors.
Higher tungsten levels were found to be strongly associated with an increase in the prevalence of stroke, roughly equal to a doubling of the odds of experiencing the condition. Importantly, the findings show that tungsten could be a significant risk factor for stroke in people under the age of 50.
The authors found no significant correlation between tungsten and cardiovascular disease.
According to figures from the World Health Organisation, stroke is currently the second leading cause of death in the Western world, ranking only second to heart disease. It is also the leading cause of disability in adults, often resulting in loss of motor control, urinary incontinence, depression and memory loss.
In recent years there has been an exponential increase in tungsten demand, which is commonly used in consumer products such as mobile phones and computers, potentially increasing human exposure to the metal. Currently, the toxicology of tungsten is poorly understood, but mounting evidence suggests that both the elemental metal and its alloys can have toxic effects on the body’s cells.
Subsequently, tungsten has been identified as toxicant of emerging concern and this research provides strong evidence that efforts must be focused on developing a greater understanding of its impact on human health, so that appropriate measurement and monitoring practices can be introduced.