High tungsten levels may double stroke risk: study

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High tungsten levels may double stroke risk: study

(Xinhua) 08:13, November 12, 2013

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High levels of tungsten in the body could double the risk of suffering a stroke, a study in the U. S. journal PLOS ONE said Monday.

Using data from a large U.S. health survey, the study showed that high concentrations of tungsten, as measured in urine samples, is strongly linked with an increase in the occurrence of stroke, roughly equal to a doubling of the odds of experiencing the condition.

Researchers from the University of Exeter said their study represents the most comprehensive analysis to date of the potential health effects of the metal.

The research used data from the U.S. based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, analyzing information for 8614 participants aged between 18 and 74 over a 12-year period.

The researchers found that higher tungsten levels are strongly associated with an increase in the prevalence of stroke, independent of typical risk factors.

Importantly, tungsten could be a significant risk factor for stroke in people under the age of 50, they said.

According to the researchers, while current human exposure to tungsten is very low, recent years have seen a significant increase in the demand and supply of the material, which is commonly used in consumer products such as mobile phones and computers, as well as a number of industrial and military products.

During its production, small amounts of the metal can be deposited in the environment, eventually making their way into water systems and onto agricultural land. With largely unknown health consequences, tungsten has been identified as a toxicant of emerging concern, the researchers said.

"Whilst currently very low, human exposure to tungsten is set to increase," lead author Jessica Tyrrell of the University of Exeter said in a statement.

"We're not yet sure why some members of the population have higher levels of the metal in their make-up, and an important step in understanding and preventing the risks it may pose to health will be to get to the bottom of how it's ending up in our bodies," Tyrrell said.

The tungsten-stroke relationship observed in this research highlights another example of the potentially negative impact new materials can have on health, the researchers said, urging more research to explore how these compounds might interact together to impact human health.