Effect of acute exposure to cadmium on zinc, copper and lead contents of hard and soft tissues of rats

Eleven groups of Wistar rats were given 5 ppm cadmium acetate in the drinking water at different and interrupted periods of their life (in utero, during sucking etc.), simulating acute exposure. The Zn, Cu and Pb levels of indicators (teeth and hair) and target organs (soft tissues and bone) were recorded by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It was concluded that acute exposure to Cd has a somewhat different effect on Zn, Cu and Pb storage in the tissues than chronic exposure. It was further inferred that the effects on Zn, Cu and Pb cannot be used as diagnostic criteria in population screenings at very low doses of Cd.