Chronic effects of ingested lead and arsenic

Conference · Fri Nov 04 23:00:00 EST 1938 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5192491

Calvery, H O

The minimum amounts of lead and arsenic were determined that, when ingested periodically, would cause effects which could be attributed directly to these elements. Rats and dogs were used as experimental animals. Since it was essential to know the effect of lead and arsenic separately as well as in combination, the salts selected for initial investigation were lead arsenate, calcium arsenate, lead acetate, and arsenic trioxide. The concentrations of these in the diets ranged from a fraction of a milligram to several hundred milligrams per kilogram. There was definite storage of lead in all organs and tissues examined at all levels fed. The storage of arsenic was also shown, even at the lowest levels fed. Variation of the calcium content from a low level approximating that of a large percentage of the human dietary to a higher level markedly influenced the storage and toxicity of lead, and a variation in the calcium to phosphorus ratio influenced the storage of arsenic. Calcium arsenate was more toxic and caused greater storage than did arsenic trioxide at the same level. There was no difference observed in the toxicities of lead acetate and lead arsenate when fed at the same relatively low levels, but at high levels the lead arsenate was the more toxic. In some cases there was an influence on the intake of food. No significant differences were noted between the control and the experimental rats in either the P1 or F1 generations on the fertility and fecundity. Both lead and arsenic are transferred from the mother's tissues to the fetus and lead is transferred in the milk. Even at the lowest levels of the intake of lead (0.61 ppm) the average concentration of lead of a large number of newborn animals was the same as that of the diet of the mother.

• Research Organization: Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5192491
• Report Number(s): CONF-380601-
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 111:19; ISSN JAMAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
ARSENATES
ARSENIC
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC OXIDES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CALCIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIET
DISTRIBUTION
DOGS
ELEMENTS
FERTILITY
FETUSES
FOOD
INGESTION
INTAKE
LEAD
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
METABOLISM
METALS
MILK
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS
PROGENY
QUANTITY RATIO
RATS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
SEMIMETALS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES