Toxicity studies of sodium metavanadate and vanadyl sulfate administered in drinking water to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats and B6C3F1/N mice.

Oral human exposure to vanadium may occur due to its presence in food and drinking water and its use in dietary supplements. The most prevalent oxidation states of vanadium in food and drinking water have been characterized as tetravalent and pentavalent. Vanadyl sulfate and sodium metavanadate were selected as representative tetravalent (V4+) and pentavalent (V5+) test articles for these studies, respectively. To assess the potential for oral toxicity of vanadium compounds with differing oxidation states under similar test conditions, the 3-month National Toxicology Program (NTP) toxicity studies of sodium metavanadate and vanadyl sulfate were conducted in male and female Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats (including perinatal exposure) and in B6C3F1/N mice. Drinking water concentrations for sodium metavanadate (0, 31.3, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg/L) and vanadyl sulfate (0, 21.0, 41.9, 83.8, 168, and 335 mg/L) were selected on the basis of previously published 14-day drinking water studies conducted as part of the NTP vanadium research program. (Abstract Abridged).