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Related Concept Videos

Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements01:27

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements00:57

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information about...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
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Antidotes01:17

Antidotes

Antidotes are medicinal substances used to counteract the harmful effects of toxins or drugs in the body. They function in various ways, each uniquely designed to combat specific toxic compounds.
Specific antidotes operate by inhibiting the enzymes that control biochemical pathways, reducing the production of harmful metabolites.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) for Quantification of Iron Redox Species (Fe(II), Fe(III))
04:48

Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) for Quantification of Iron Redox Species (Fe(II), Fe(III))

Published on: May 4, 2020

Metals and neurotoxicology.

Robert O Wright1, Andrea Baccarelli

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Boston Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. rowright@hsph.harvard.edu

The Journal of Nutrition
|November 22, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Metals are crucial in neurobiology, acting as nutrients and neurotoxicants. Early life metal exposure can lead to adult disease through epigenetic programming, highlighting iron metabolism

Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Transition metals are vital for redox reactions in cellular respiration, detoxification, metabolism, and neurotransmitter synthesis.
  • Metals like iron, zinc, copper, and manganese function as both essential nutrients and potent neurotoxicants.
  • Lead and cadmium share metabolic pathways with essential metals, particularly iron, suggesting a common mechanism for toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dual role of metals as nutrients and neurotoxicants in neurobiology.
  • To investigate the significance of iron metabolism and its regulatory genes in understanding metal toxicity.
  • To examine the role of epigenetics as a critical pathway through which early-life metal exposures influence adult disease phenotypes.

Main Methods:

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Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability
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Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

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A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity
15:04

A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity

Published on: May 5, 2009

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) for Quantification of Iron Redox Species (Fe(II), Fe(III))
04:48

Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) for Quantification of Iron Redox Species (Fe(II), Fe(III))

Published on: May 4, 2020

Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability
09:23

Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

Published on: June 21, 2015

A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity
15:04

A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity

Published on: May 5, 2009

  • Literature review on the role of transition metals in neurobiology.
  • Analysis of studies on metal metabolism, focusing on iron, zinc, copper, manganese, lead, and cadmium.
  • Examination of research linking early-life metal exposure, epigenetic modifications, and adult disease.

Main Results:

  • Metals significantly impact neurobiological processes, influencing redox states and catalyzing critical biochemical reactions.
  • Iron metabolism and its genetic regulation are identified as key factors in understanding metal-induced neurotoxicity.
  • Epigenetic mechanisms are emerging as a critical pathway mediating the long-term health effects of early-life metal exposures.

Conclusions:

  • Metals play a complex, dual role in neurobiology, necessitating a thorough understanding of their metabolic pathways.
  • Iron metabolism is a central focus for elucidating mechanisms of metal neurotoxicity.
  • Epigenetic programming by early-life metal exposure represents a significant pathway for adult disease development.