RT Book, Section A1 Katzung, Bertram G. A1 Kruidering-Hall, Marieke A1 Tuan, Rupa Lalchandani A1 Vanderah, Todd W. A1 Trevor, Anthony J. SR Print(0) ID 1180559219 T1 Heavy Metals & Chelators T2 Katzung & Trevor's Pharmacology: Examination & Board Review, 13e YR 2021 FD 2021 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781260117127 LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1180559219 RD 2024/03/28 AB The heavy metals discussed in this chapter—lead, arsenic, mercury, and iron—frequently cause toxicity in humans. The toxicity profiles of metals differ, but most of their effects appear to result from interaction with essential cations, sulfhydryl groups of enzymes, and regulatory proteins. Chelators are organic compounds with two or more electronegative groups that form stable bonds with cationic metal atoms. These stable complexes lack the toxicity of the free metals and often are excreted readily. Chelators, which function as chemical antagonists, are used as antidotes in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.