Thallium Toxicity: The Problem; An Analytical Approach; An Antidotal Study
Abstract
Thallium (T1) is a highly toxic metal that is anthropogenically concentrated in the environment. Tl toxicity and the quantitative analysis of trace levels of Tl in biologic materials by atomic absorption spectroscopy is reviewed; a study designed to evaluate the antidotal efficacy of 2 compounds in the treatment of acute Tl toxicity in rats is documented. Unithiol (2,3- dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid, DMPS) and prussian blue (potassium ferric hexacyanoferrate(II), PB), given alone and in combination, were evaluated as antidotes in the treatment of acute thallotoxicosis in male Sprauge-Dawley rats. The relative accumulation of Tl in organs was kidney>>heart>liver-brain. PB induced significant decorporation of Tl from all tissues. DMPS failed to significantly decrease the Tl content in any organ, but significantly decreased the Tl content in whole blood. PB+DMPS treatment significantly decreased the Tl content in all organs, but to no greater extent than PB alone. PB and PB+DMPS treatments significantly increased the Tl content of feces, whereas DMPS treatment alone produced little effect. This study indicates that PB is a beneficial antidote in the treatment of acute thallotoxicosis in rats. The failure of DMPS to significantly decrease the Tl content in 4 target organs suggests it would not be useful in the treatment of Tl poisoning....Thallium, Poison, Antidote, Chelator, Prussian blue, Potassium ferric hexacyanoferrate(II) , Unithiol, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid, Rat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA263193
Entities
People
- James P. Mulkey