Tungsten is not only known for its use in light bulbs, the element is also essential for many new technologies. However, its toxicology is poorly understood.

Nicholas J. Osborne, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK, and colleagues investigated the association between tungsten and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or stroke using six waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The researchers analyzed data from this U.S. health study including health information on 8,614 persons, 18 to 74 years old. The data cover a period of twelve years.

They found that individuals with higher urinary tungsten concentrations have double the odds of reported stroke, independent of typical risk factors such as obesity and high cholesterol levelst.
This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of the human health effects of tungsten to date.

• High Urinary Tungsten Concentration Is Associated with Stroke in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2010,
  Jessica Tyrrell, Tamara S. Galloway, Ghada Abo-Zaid, David Melzer, Michael H. Depledge, Nicholas J. Osborne,
  PLOS One 2013.
  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077546