Absorption and Excretion of Cadmium by the Rat administered Cadmium-containing Chlorella

Effect of chlorella, which contained cadmium in its cells, designated as cadmium-containing chlorella, on rats was studied and the following facts were found : 1) When the cadmium-containing chlorella was administered to rats orally for 10 days, no significant difference in body weight from control rats was observed. However, in the case of repeated oral administration of cadmium chloride, the growth of rats was impeded significantly. 2) Cadmium concentration in organs of rats after administration of cadmium-containing chlorella for 10 days was significantly lower than that of rats administered cadmium chloride. 3) Cadmium concentration in blood after single oral administration of cadmium chloride (10 mg/kg) or cadmium-containing chlorella (10 mg/kg) was examined, and 119 ng/ml blood was found 3 hr after cadmium chloride was given but only little cadmium was detected in blood after cadmium-containing chlorella was given. 4) Urinary excretion of cadmium from cadmium-containing chlorella was significantly faster than that of rats administered cadmium chloride.