Bioaccumulation and damaging action of polymetal industrial dust on laboratory mice Mus musculus alba: I. Analysis of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd disposition and mathematical model for Zn and Cd bioaccumulations

The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in the liver, kidneys, spleen, bones, and carcass of laboratory mice BALB/cy were observed in toxicological experiments. Polymetal industrial dust containing these metals was given to experimental animals at 1% concentration mixed with conventional animal food. Samples for analyses were taken on Days 15, 40, 60, 90, and 120 posttreatment. The experimental data clearly support the established antagonistic interactions among cadmium, zinc, copper, and lead. A mathematical model was proposed to study the main tendencies of heavy metal bioaccumulation under conditions of metal interaction and excessive exposure. The experimental results were assessed on the basis of the model. A rate constant of renal excretion greater than that of hepatic excretion was obtained, which agrees with the observed inversion of cadmium kidney/liver ratio in the conditions of very high exposure.