Semichronic oral toxicity of cadmium. 2. Studies on dogs.

Cadmium in the form of CdCl2 was administered with the feed in concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 10 and 30 ppm over a period of 3 months to groups of 2 male and 2 female beagle dogs each. The appearance, behaviour food consumption, growth and mortality of the treated dogs in all groups was not affected. In the groups up to 30 ppm cadmium caused no detectable harm to blood, liver or kidneys. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the treated animals of all groups up to 30 ppm was within the normal range. The autopsies and histopathological investigations revealed no evidence of any damage. Cadmium accumulated dose-dependently above all in the kidneys and liver. The dogs tolerated concentrations of up to 30 ppm cadmium in their feed over a period of 3 months without harm.