Effects of a Nonabsorbable Chelating Resin on Lead Absorption, Elimination, and Accumulation in the Rat

Abstract

In rats, oral administration of lead-chelating resin (Chelex-100®) reduced the absorption of an oral lead dose (10 mg/kg) when both doses were given at approximately the same time. The same oral resin did not reduce blood lead concentrations when administered after the lead dose had been absorbed or after systemic lead administration (1 mg/kg, intra-cardiac), indicating that the resin did not influence lead elimination. As a dietary supplement the resin was also ineffective in reducing blood and kidney lead concentrations in rats exposed to lead in drinking water. Thus, the possible therapeutic uses of this lead-chelating resin may be limited.