Distribution of intratracheally administered cadmium in rats.

Cadmium chloride cleared rapidly from the lungs and translocated mainly into the liver within 24 hrs of an intratracheal instillation. Further pulmonary clearance and hepatic accumulation were very slow during the remaining observation period of 24 days. Though, the uptake of cadmium by kidneys was lower but the level increased consistently with the time after instillation. The induction of metallothionein synthesis by cadmium might be responsible for accumulation and retention of cadmium in liver and kidneys significantly.