Adsorption of Cd2+ ions on an Egyptian montmorillonite and toxicological effects in rats

Cadmium (Cd2+ ion) is an ubiquitous environmental pollutant that has been associated with many toxicological disorders in both humans and animal models. The aims of the current study were to study the physiochemical properties of Egyptian montmorillonite (EM), to evaluate its ability to adsorb Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions in vitro and to evaluate the protective effects of EM against Cd2+ ions toxicity in vivo. In the in vitro study, three concentrations of Cd2+ ions (10, 20 and 50 ppm) and three concentrations of EM (0.5. 1 and 2 g/100 ml aqueous solution) were tested. The in vivo study revealed that Cd2+ ions induced toxicological and histological changes typical to those reported in the literature. EM was found to counteract these hazards effects. EM is a promising candidate for the removal of Cd2+ ions from aqueous solution and reducing their toxicity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.