It was at first believed to be relatively inert and an only slightly toxic metal, but beginning in the year 2000, the risk presented by tungsten alloys, its dusts and particulates to induce cancer and several other adverse effects in animals as well as humans has been highlighted from in vitro and in vivo experiments. The median lethal dose LD50 depends strongly on the animal and the method of administration and varies between 59 mg/kg (intravenous, rabbits) also reported in and 5000 mg/kg (tungsten metal powder, intraperitoneal, rats).
It was at first believed to be relatively inert and an only slightly toxic metal, but beginning in the year 2000 the risk presented by tungsten alloys, its dusts and particulates to induce cancer and several other adverse effects in animals as well as humans has been highlighted from in vitro and in vivo experiments. The median lethal dose L,D50 depends strongly on the animal and the method of administration and varies between 59 mg/kg (intravenous, rabbits) also reported in and 5000 mg/kg (tungsten metal powder, intraperitoneal, rats).