A COMPARISON OF DIETHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE AND EDTA AS ANTIDOTES FOR ACUTE CADMIUM INTOXICATION

Abstract

For mice given the Cd equivalent of CdCl2 .cntdot. 2 1/2 H2O at a level of 10 mg/kg, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) administration at 500 mg/kg led to a higher survival rate than was found with Na2CaEDTA under identical conditions. This occurred when the interval between administration of the Cd salt and the antidote was either 1 or 2 h. The surviving animals had appreciable Cd levels in their brain, liver and kidney when treated with DDTC, though their behavior appeared to be normal. The use of 50 mg/kg of DDTC after 2 h in such Cd-poisoned mice also leads to a higher survival rate and to reduced amounts of Cd retained in the brain, liver and kidney. Unlike the other chelating agents useful in acute Cd intoxication, DDTC appears to act by forming a lipid soluble complex which is largely immobilized in lipid-containing tissues of the animal''s body.