Vanadium [V, 23]

Vanadium (V) is a silvery-gray, transition metal of group 5 in the periodic table of elements; its mean abundance in the Earth’s crust is within the range of 53–60 mg/kg. Vanadium is a ubiquitous trace element in the environments and is essential for all living organisms, but its increased concentration is harmful. Worldwide mean V level in soils is estimated to be 130 mg/kg, within the range of 70–320 mg/kg. The highest V concentrations in surface waters, up to about 200 µg/L, were recorded in the vicinity of metallurgical plants or downstream of large cities. Phytoavailability of V is a function of its concentration in soil solution. Plants take up V relatively easily, especially from acidic soils. The total amount of V in the human body is estimated to be about 20 mg, of which 0.02–0.09 µg/L is in the blood, 3 µg/kg in the bone, and 20 mg/kg in the tissues.