The theoretical basis behind a recent quantitative analysis of 17O exchange in ZrW2O8 [M.R. Hampson, J.S.O. Evans, P. Hodgkinson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 15175-15181] is set out. Despite the complexities of combining the multi-exponential relaxation of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei with chemical exchange, it is shown how magnetisation transfer experiments can be analysed to obtain estimates of absolute exchange rates. The multi-exponential relaxation is best modelled using a magnetic mechanism, i.e. the rapid T1 relaxation observed, particularly at high temperatures, can be directly related to the relatively high degree of 17O labelling employed. The combination of the 1D EXSY results with T1 values as a function of temperature provides exchange rates and activation barriers over a wide temperature range (40-226 degrees C).