Nephrotoxicity effects of the wood preservative chromium copper arsenate on mice: Histopathological and quantitative approaches

Although the same contents of pentavalent arsenic and hexavalent chromium were injected in treated animals with CCA and with the prepared solutions of As2O5 and CrO3, the arsenic concentration on kidneys of CCA-exposed animals was much higher than those in animals exposed to As2O5 (32- and 28-fold higher at 14 and 24 h, respectively). However, the elimination of chromium seems to occur similarly in the kidneys of animals treated with CCA and CrO3per se. Interactions among the components of CCA result in a marked decrease of the ability of kidney to eliminate simultaneously both analytes. The nephrotoxicity of CCA was higher than its components per se, evidencing a possible synergetic effect.