ABSTRACT
Vanadium is a trace metal reported to have both beneficial and toxic effects on mammals and human beings. As a first-row transition metal, it forms stable species in several oxidation states and its chemistry, referred to as speciation chemistry, is very complex. Whether vanadium has a toxic or beneficial effect depends on its oxidation state, concentration, properties, nature of the vanadium compound, and its route of administration. Vanadium can be found in various minerals, and in some coal and crude oil deposits as vanadyl porphyrins. Toxic effects of vanadium have been reported in occupational studies, such as those investigating the health of miners and industrial workers. Although several forms of vanadium can be toxic when administered in high quantities, other vanadium compounds have also been found to have the potential to treat diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. The consideration of the detailed speciation, the specific vanadium compound, and the concentration of the species added is critical when assessing the health effects of vanadium and its compounds.
