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.
