RESUMO
The effect of selenium or tellurium solely and in combination with cadmium, mercury or thallium on blood hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, packed cell volume, serum AST and ALT as well as the effect on liver, kidney, and spleen weight was studied in the present investigation in rats. Groups of rats were orally treated with selenium [250 mug/kg], tellurium [150 mug/kg], cadmium [2.5 mg/kg], mercury [1.5 mg/kg], and thallium [3 mg/kg] as well as combinations of selenium and/or tellurium for 9 consecutive days. From the results obtained, it was concluded that special attention should be given to ensure adequate selenium or tellurium intake for protection against toxicity risks that might be caused by cadmium, mercury and thallium. This study also revealed a toxic interaction between selenium and tellurium which warrant a special care of their use in combination with each other