Short-term toxicity studies of vanadium in rats.

Vanadium (in the form of NaVO3) was given in drinking water to groups of 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats over a period of 3 months at concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 50 ppm. Vanadium accumulated dose-dependently in the kidneys and spleen. Appearance, behaviour, food and water consumption, growth and mortality of the treated rats of all groups were not affected during the 3-month period. Histopathological investigation showed only mild though dose-dependent lesions in kidneys and spleen. The plasma concentrations of urea and uric acid were increased in the highest exposure groups.