Resumen de Metals (cobalt, copper, lead, mercury)
Inhalation of cobalt salts in the ‘hard metal’ industry has been shown to cause giant cell interstitial pneumonitis. Substantial ingestion of cobalt salts can produce neuro-ocular, cardiac and/or thyroid toxicity. Systemic cobalt toxicity has been encountered occasionally in recipients of cobalt-containing hip prostheses. Ingestion of copper salts causes a corrosive gastroenteritis. Chronic inhalation of copper-containing pesticides has caused pulmonary fibrosis. Lead can be absorbed following inhalation or ingestion and is toxic to most organ systems through mechanisms that involve complexing with important functional chemical groups or substitution of essential metal ions. Management involves avoidance of exposure and, in more severe cases, chelation therapy with either sodium calcium edetate or dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). The central nervous system is the most susceptible target organ for mercury. Chelation therapy with 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) can enhance mercury elimination.
