General toxicity studies of the cadmium and benzo(a)pyrene complex

Cadmium, a heavy metal, and benzo(a)pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, are found in air, water, soil and food. These environmental pollutants are also common constituents of tobacco smoke. The objective of the study was to investigate the combined effect of cadmium and benzo(a)pyrene on general toxicity on the organism of Wistar rats at the oral route of administration. Materials and methods: Tests on general toxicity were conducted on the basis of the methodical recommendations 407 and 408 of the OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals: "Repeated Dose Oral Toxicity Rodent: 28-day or 14-day study", "Subchronic Oral Toxicity Rodent: 90-day study". In the experiment, about 200 male Wistar-line rats were employed. The complex of substances studied induced changes in the biochemical, urinalysis, hematological and orientation reactions parameters. Used were 4 different dose levels (0.1, 0.5, 1.92, 4.0 mg/kg for Cd and 0.00015, 0.0015, 33.3, 10.0 mg/kg for B(a)P and their combinations). The effects of complex were characterized by 4 types of combined action of substances: antagonistic, additive, synergic and unknown nature. Results: According to the parameters of blood biochemistry and urinalysis, the following combined action of substances was determined: antagonistic 63.9%, additive 19.4%, synergic 5.6% and unknown nature 11.1%. Evaluating the complex of substances by hematological parameters, it was noted that the combined action of substances had 3 types: antagonistic (41.2%), additive (47.0%) and synergic (11.8%). Analysis of the complex of substances under study by the parameters of orientation reactions showed that the combined action of substances had 2 types: antagonistic (37.5%) and additive (62.5%).