High levels of exposure to vanadium by children aged 1–4

Abstract

This paper presents evidence that normal children aged 1–4, who were participating in a study designed to estimate soil ingestion, displayed very elevated fecal vanadium (V) levels that could not be explained by consumption of food, water, medicine, or soil. Some children were exposed to V that exceeded average daily food ingestion of V by 50‐ 500‐fold. The source of the V is uncertain but is hypothesized to be related at least in part to consumption of inks and print in childrens’ books. Previous assessments of daily V exposure in children have not considered this novel source of exposure and have prematurely concluded food to be the principal environmental source of V in young children.

Key words:

• vanadium
• soil ingestion
• ink
• exposure assessment