Abstract
Substitution of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) for polyphosphates in detergents has brought questions concerning its potential toxicity and impact on trace metal distribution in the environment. A calculation based upon metal ligand equilibria, known environmental concentrations of NTA following extensive detergent usage, and the presence of competitive metal-binding ligands and trace elements demonstrates that NTA will be present almost completely as the calcium and magnesium chelates. An analogous estimate of the speciation of NTA in various toxicity studies demonstrates that the onset of chronic toxicity in feeding studies is coincident with the presence of significant concentrations of “free” NTA in the gastrointestinal tract. Massive doses of NTA over long periods of time cause reproducible renal tumors in rats, but dosages of 7500 ppm administered indefinitely are without measurable effect.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. D. Foley, G. Becking, J. Muller, R. A. Goyer, H. L. Falk, and N. Chernoff, “Report to the Great Lakes Research Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission on the Health Implication of NTA,” Great Lakes Regional Office, Windsor, Ontario, 1977.
N. Chernoff and K. D. Courtney, Progress Report, National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, N.C., 1 December, 1970.
“Assessment of the Potential of Nitrilotriacetate (NTA) to Compromise Human Health,” Assistant Secretary's Ad Hoc Group on NTA, Final Report to the Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs, L. A. Woods, Chairman, April 19, 1972.
H. Tjalve,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 23, 216 (1972).
G. A. Nolen, L. W. Klussm, D. L. Black, and E. V. Buehler,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 18, 407 (1971).
L. G. Scharpf, Jr., F. J. Ramos, I. D. Hill,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 22, 186 (1972).
K. R. Mahaffey and R. A. Goyer,Arch. Envir. Health 25, 271 (1972).
P. S. Thayer and C. J. Kensler, “Current Status of the Environmental and Human Safety Aspects of Nitriloacetic Acid (NTA),” inCritical Reviews in Environmental Control, R. B. Bond, and C. P. Straub, eds., The Chemical Rubber Co., 1973, pp. 375–404.
“Bioassays of Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA) and Nitrilotriacetic Acid Trisodium Salt Monohydrate (Na3NTA·H2O) for possible Carcinogenicity,” U.S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Technical Report, Series No. 6, January, 1977.
D. Hoel, L. Plumlee, M. Prival, R. Kirchstein, V. Saffiotti, and M. Schneiderman, “Subcommittee on Estimation of Risks of Irreversible, Delayed Toxicology and Related Programs,” Report of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare Committee to Coordinate Toxicology and Related Programs, June 30, 1975.
“Current Status of the Environment and Human Safety Aspects of Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA).” Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., 1972, p. 4.
J. M. Tiedje, B. B. Mason, C. B. Warren, and E. J. Malec,Appl. Microbiol. 25, 811 (1973).
S. S. Epstein,Internation. J. Environ. Studies 2, 291;3, 13 (1972).
D. D. Focht and H. A. Joseph,Canada J. Microbiol. 17, 1553 (1971).
C. B. Warren and E. J. Malec,Science 176, 277 (1972).
J. G. Sprague,Nature 200, 1345 (1968).
R. D. Swisher, T. A. Taulli, and E. J. Malec, “Biodegradation of NTA Metal Chelates in River Water,” inTrace Metals and Metal-Organic Interactions in Natural Waters, P. C. Singer, ed., Ann Arbor Science Publishers, 1973, pp. 237–263.
All metal concentrations except Zn(II) taken from Tables 6–13 of “Median Values of Water Quality in Public Water Supplies of 100 Largest Cities in the United States,” inHandbook of Environmental Control, Vol. III, Water Supply and Treatment, CRC Press, Cleveland, Ohio, 1973.
Zinc concentration from page 8, Table III, “Trace Metals in Waters of the United States” by J. R. Kopp and R. C. Kroner, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, FWPCA, Cincinnati, Ohio (no date). Data covered: 5 year period (Oct. 1, 1962–Sept. 30, 1967).
A. E. Martell and R. M. Smith,Critical Stability Constants, Vol. 1, Amino Acids, Plenum, New York, N.Y., 1974.
G. W. Flamm, NTA Subcommittee Report, D HEW-CCTRP, June 12, 1975.
W. R. Michael and J. M. Wakin,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 18, 407 (1971).
J. A. BudnyToxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 22, 655 (1972).
J. A. Budny and J. D. Arnold,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 25, 48 (1973).
J. A. Budny, R. J. Niewenhuis, E. V. Buehler, and E. K. Goldenthal,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 26, 148 (1973).
A. Popovici, C.F. Geschickter, and M. Rubin,Georgetown Med. Ctr. Bulletin 5, 108 (1951).
P. D. Dollan, S. L. Schwartz, J. R. Hayes, J. C. Mullen, and N. B. Cummings,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 10, 481 (1967).
S. L. Schwartz, C. B. Johnson, and P. D. Doolan,Molecular Pharmacology 6, 54 (1970).
S. Brahmanandam, B. Nagarajan, and V. M. Sivaramakrishnan,Indian J. Exp. Biology 3, 88 (1965).
G. A. Nixon, E. V. Buehler, and R. J. Niewenhuis,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 21, 244 (1972).
M. Rubin, R. Mhatre, and E. Harmuth-Hoene, Abstract, Ninth International Congress of Clinical Chemistry, Toronto, Canada, July 13–18, 1975.
L. G Scharpf, Jr., Proctor and Gamble Co., October, 1976, private communication.
A. Albert,Selective Toxicity, Chapman and Hall, London, 5th Ed., 1973, pp. 334–391.
A. Popovici, C. F. Geshickter, A. Reinovsky, and M. Rubin,Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 74, 415 (1950).
A. Saffer and T. Toribora,J. Lab. Clin. Med. 58, 542 (1961).
R. O. Bauer, F. E. Rullo, C. Spooner, and E. Woodman,Fed. Proc. 11, 321 (1952).
H. Spencer, V. Vaniscot, J. Lewin and D. Laszlo,J. Clin. Invest. 31, 1023 (1952).
M. Rubin, S. Gignac, S. P. Bessman, and E. L. Belknap,117, 659 (1952).
H. Foreman and T. T. Trujillo,J. Lab. Clin. Med. 43, 566 (1954).
L. Mosey, cited in J. B. Sidburg, Jr., J. C. Bynum, and L. L. Fetz,Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 82, 226 (1953).
J. Boner,Strahlenterapie 142, 349 (1971).
H. Swenerton, and L. S. Hurley,Science 173, 62 (1971).
G. A. Nixon,Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 18, 398 (1971).
J. V. Princiotto, E. J. Zapolski, D. H. Bagley, A. Laskey, R. Morgan, and M. Rubin,Biochem. Med. 3, 289 (970).
G. C. Battistone, F. A. San Filippo, M. I. Rubin, S. Silverman, D. E. Cutright, and R. E. Miller, inTrace Substances in Environmental Health, D. B. Hemphill, ed., University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 1971.
W. D. Grover and R. I. Henkin,Trace elements in Man and Animals, Vol. 3, M. Kirchgessner, ed., Frei-sing-weihenstephen, West Germany, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rubin, M., Martell, A.E. The implications of trace metal-nitrilotriacetetic acid speciation on its environmental impact and toxicology. Biol Trace Elem Res 2, 1–19 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789031
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789031
Index Entries
- Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and trace metal distribution in the environment
- nitrilotriacetic acid, toxicology of
- environmental impact of chelating agents, and NTA
- toxicology of chelating agents, and NTA
- trace metal speciation in the environment, and NTA
- chelating agent speciation in mammalian systems, and NTA