1993 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Effects of thallium on biological bodies

Research Project

Project/Area Number	04670315
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Hygiene
Research Institution	Juntendo University School of Medicine
Principal Investigator	CHIBA Momoko Juntendo Univ., School of Medicine, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (80095819)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	SHINOHARA Atsuko Juntendo Univ., School of Medicine, Associate Professor, 医学部, 講師 (90157850)
Project Period (FY)	1992 – 1993
Keywords	Thallium / Mouse / Oral Dministration / Distribution / Excretion / Biological monitoring
Research Abstract	PURPOSE Thallium (Tl) is highly toxic, therefore, they quitted using it as the medical treatments, in secticides or redenticides. REcently, Tl is given attention as a material for semiconductors or advanced composites. Our main purpose of this study is to know the fate of Tl in animal bodies. METHODS Male mice at 6 week old started drinking water containig 0.2 to 20 ppm Tl for 1 or 3 weeks. The other mice received single administration of 50 mumol Tl/kg directly to stomach. The other mice were given Tl by combination of drinking water and oral injection. One, 3, 7, 22, or 43 days after cessation of Tl intake, mice were sacrificed and almost all organs, blood, contents in gastro-intestinal tract, urine, and feces, 20 items per mouse were kept for Tl determination. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. Every kind of analytical specimen contained Tl. 2. Disappearance of Tl from each organ was relatively rapid after cessation of Tl intake. Wehn low dose was supplied, Tl concentrations in organs were 1/2 after 3 days, and 1/10 after 1 week. 3. Tl excretion into urine was 10 - 30%, and 35-60% or total amount ingested. 4. The highest Tl concentration was found in bone and showed the slowest attenuation. 5. Tests, submandibular gland, and gastrointestinal tracts showed high affinity to Tl. 6. Tl concentration in hair had positive correlation with Tl dose administered. 7. The activities of serum GOT, Al-P, and blood ALAD were not affected by Tl. CONCLUSION Tl invading into body orally distributes almost all organs. Disappearance of Tl from organs was relatively fast. Body hair is useful for biological monitoring.