How can people be exposed to tungsten?
People can be exposed to tungsten through both natural processes and human industrial activities. Trace amounts are found in seawater, and very small concentrations are present in the atmosphere. Large amounts of dust can be released into the air from industries that make tungsten. People are exposed to it by breathing air that contains tungsten; they can also be exposed by eating food or drinking water contaminated with tungsten. In terms of industrial activities, eleven facilities throughout the United States use various domestic ores to produce one or more forms of tungsten, including tungsten metal powder, ammonium paratungstate (APT) powder, or tungsten carbide powder.
