Veterinary Taxicology

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOXIC METALS

• Toxic metals may be cumulative and stored in definite tissue locations.
• Although metals may be cumulative in nature, toxicosis is not necessarily due to storage.
• This is because some storage sites are toxicologically inert.
• Route of exposure may be important in modifying toxicosis.
• Metallic compounds can bind to enzymes, membrane proteins, or other essential structural proteins.
• Metals may complex with one another or with the same protein molecule resulting in altered toxicity.
• Organic and inorganic forms of metals may result in marked variation in expression of toxicity.
• Organomercurials result in clinical signs and lesions commonly affecting the central nervous system while inorganic mercury results in acute gastroenteritis and renal damage.