Thallium Sulfate Research Articles

Thallium reabsorption via NKCC2 causes severe acute kidney injury with outer medulla-specific calcium crystal casts in rats.

Thallium (Tl) is one of the most toxic heavy metals, associated with accidental poisoning and homicide. It causes acute and chronic systemic diseases, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases and kidney failure. However, few studies have investigated the mechanism by which Tl induces acute kidney injury (AKI). This study investigated the toxic effects of Tl on the histology and function of rat kidneys using biochemical and histopathological assays after intraperitoneal thallium sulfate administration (30mg/kg). Five days post-administration, rats exhibited severely compromised kidney function. Low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy revealed excessive calcium (Ca) deposition in the outer medulla of Tl-loaded rats, particularly in the medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) of the loop of Henle. Tl accumulated in the mTAL, accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction in this segment. Tl-loaded rats showed reduced expression of kidney transporters and channels responsible for Ca2+ reabsorption in the mTAL. Pre-administration of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter 2 (NKCC2) inhibitor furosemide alleviated Tl accumulation and mitochondrial abnormalities in the mTAL. These findings suggest that Tl nephrotoxicity is associated with preferential Tl reabsorption in the mTAL via NKCC2, leading to mTAL mitochondrial dysfunction and disrupted Ca2+ reabsorption, culminating in mTAL-predominant Ca crystal deposition and AKI. These findings on the mechanism of Tl nephrotoxicity may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to counter Tl poisoning. Moreover, the observation of characteristic Ca crystal deposition in the outer medulla provides new insights into diagnostic challenges in Tl intoxication.

Short-term toxicity studies of thallium (I) sulfate administered in drinking water to Sprague Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice.

Thallium is a heavy metal that is known to induce a broad spectrum of adverse health effects in humans including alopecia, neurotoxicity, and mortality following high dose acute poisoning events. Widespread human exposure to thallium may occur via consumption of contaminated drinking water; limited toxicity data are available to evaluate the corresponding public health risk. To address this data gap, the Division of Translational Toxicology conducted short-term toxicity studies of a monovalent thallium salt, thallium (I) sulfate. Thallium (I) sulfate was administered via dosed drinking water to time-mated Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley® SD®) rats (F0 dams) and their offspring (F1) from gestation day (GD) 6 until up to postnatal day (PND) 28 at concentrations of 0, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25, or 50mg/L, and adult male and female B6C3F1/N mice for up to 2 weeks at concentrations of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100mg/L. Rat dams in the 50mg/L exposure group were removed during gestation, and dams and offspring in the 25mg/L exposure group were removed on or before PND 0 due to overt toxicity. Exposure to thallium (I) sulfate at concentrations ≤12.5mg/L did not impact F0 dam body weights, maintenance of pregnancy, littering parameters, or F1 survival (PND 4-28). However, in F1 pups, exposure to 12.5mg/L thallium (I) sulfate resulted in decreased body weight gains relative to control rats and onset of whole-body alopecia. Measurement of thallium concentrations in dam plasma, amniotic fluid, fetuses (GD 18), and pup plasma (PND 4) indicated marked maternal transfer of thallium to offspring during gestation and lactation. Mice exposed to 100mg/L thallium (I) sulfate were removed early due to overt toxicity, and mice exposed to ≥25mg/L exhibited exposure concentration-related decreases in body weight. Lowest-observed-effect levels of 12.5mg/L (rats) and 25mg/L (mice) were determined based on the increased incidence of clinical signs of alopecia in F1 rat pups and significantly decreased body weights for both rats and mice.

Changes in Blood Thallium Concentration during and after Prussian Blue Administration

Prussian blue is an antidote for acute thallium poisoning that binds to thallium in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby increasing thallium fecal excretion. However, the effects of Prussian blue monotherapy in humans remain unknown. A 66-year-old male ingested approximately 50 mL of liquid thallium rodenticide (thallium sulfate: 2%), a lethal dose, and presented to our hospital 40 hours after ingestion. The initial laboratory test results were normal. On the second day of admission, oral Prussian blue ordered from outside the hospital was started at a dose of 3 g every eight hours, and the whole blood thallium concentration was measured on consecutive days using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. On the fourth day, however, he complained of respiratory discomfort, and moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed via chest computed tomography (CT) scan and PaO2/FiO2 ratio. Endotracheal intubation was performed, and Prussian blue was discontinued because of medical costs. The patient died of respiratory failure on the ninth day after admission. The half-life of thallium in whole blood was 53 h under Prussian blue administration.

Thallium Induced Sub-chronic Toxicity Profile in Wistar Rats

Thallium (Tl) is one of the most toxic heavy metals affecting both humans and animals, yet is one of the least studied for its toxicological effects. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four Groups with 10 rats in each Group. Group I received distilled water only and served as a control. Group II, III, and IV received thallium sulfate (I) at 0.48, 0.93, and 1.33 mg/kg body weight, respectively, in drinking water for 90 days. In Group IV rats, lethargy, dehydration, weakness, mild diarrhea, weight loss and 100% morality in male Wistar rat were noted. Group II and III rats showed significant reduction in cholesterol, phosphorus, triglyceride level, and absolute and relative spleen weight. Microscopically, thallium sulfate (I) found to cause lymphoid depletion in white pulp of spleen in all treatment Groups. In kidney of Group IV rats, tubular necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolation or clearing of tubules, cast, and thrombosis were found. Dose dependent hyperkeratosis was found in non-glandular stomach in all three treated Groups. In conclusion, spleen, kidney and stomach were primarily affected organs in sub-chronic thallium toxicity.

Validation of Analytical Method for Determination of Thallium in Rodent Plasma and Tissues by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Thallium (Tl) can be released as a byproduct of smelting, mining, and other industries, causing human exposure. There are knowledge gaps on the toxicity of thallium compounds, so the National Toxicology Program is investigating the toxicity of thallium (I) sulfate in rodents. We developed and validated a method to quantitate Tl in rodent plasma and secondary matrices. Primary matrix standards and validation samples were digested with nitric acid and analyzed for Tl by inductively-coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Method performance was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and other criteria. Calibration was linear from 1.25 to 500 ng Tl/mL plasma; accuracy (RE) was −5.9 to 2.6% for all calibration standards. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 1.25 ng Tl/mL plasma, and the limit of detection was 0.0370 ng Tl/mL plasma. Intra- and interday RE and precision (RSD) were −5.6 to −1.7% and ≤0.8% (intraday) and −4.8 to −1.3% and ≤4.3% (interday), respectively, at three sample concentration levels. Standards up to 10.0 x 103 ng/mL could be analyzed by dilution with digested blank matrix, with −6.4% RE and 5.4% RSD. Method was also evaluated in post-natal day 4 (PND4) Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD (HSD) dam and pup plasma, gestation day 18 (GD 18) HSD rat fetal homogenate, HSD rat urine, female HSD rat brain homogenate, female B6C3F1 mouse plasma. Background Tl was detected in control fetal and brain homogenates and urine at < 30% of LLOQ response. Results demonstrate that the method is suitable for determination of Tl in rodent matrices for toxicology studies.

СИНТЕЗ СУЛЬФАТА ТАЛЛИЯ В РАСТВОРЕ СЕРНОЙ КИСЛОТЫ ПРИ ПОЛЯРИЗАЦИИ ПЕРЕМЕННЫМ ТОКОМ

Nowadays, the one of the actual problems is the recycling of metal waste and its provision to consumers. However, it is known that there are a number of difficulties with the recycling of thallium waste. By using new recycling methods, it's possible to increase thallium resources and lower prices for thallium-derived products. Therefore, some work was carried out to extract its compounds from thallium waste by studying the electrochemical properties of thallium in our research work. The experimental results showed that thallium electrodes dissolve in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid under alternating current polarization with the formation of thallium (I) sulfate. In this work, the kinetics of electrochemical oxidation-reduction of thallium in aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid is studied by potentiometry. To characterize the mechanism of thallium electrooxidation, the following parameters were calculated: the order of the reaction and the effective activation energy of the process. The impact of electrolysis modes: current density, concentration and temperature of the electrolyte on the dimensional charac-teristics of the obtained thallium (I) sulfate was investigated.

Thallium toxicity due to audultered infusion with thallium sulfate in eight members belonging to the same family nucleus: Autopsy findings and ICP-MS analysis (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) in a triple homicide.

The banning of the heavy metal thallium (Tl) in many Countries, because of its toxicity, led to a remarkable reduction of the number of cases of poisoning both accidental and homicidal forcing us to better study the pharmacokinetics of this poison using new technologies. The Authors, in this work, are reporting the case of a collective thallium toxicosis caused by voluntary adulteration of an infusion with thallium sulfate, occurred in 8 members of the same familial nucleus; the administration of Prussian Blu resulted to be ineffective for 3 of these members that died at a later time. The most peculiar aspects of this rare manner of poisoning are discussed; the analytical procedures used, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in particular, resulted to be fundamental in the forensic diagnosis process of acute poisoning cause by thallium.

Genotoxicity assessment of human peripheral Lymphocytes induced by thallium(I) and thallium(III)

ABSTRACTThallium is a non-essential metal with a wide range of industrial uses. However, thallium is also a potential pollutant with high potential toxicity to humans. In the present study, we analyzed and compared the cellular and genotoxic effects of thallium in two main oxidation states by applying chromosome aberration assays to human peripheral lymphocytes. We observed that thallium(I) sulfate reduced the mitotic index at all tested concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 50 and 100 μg/mL), whereas thallium(III) chloride was toxic at concentrations ≥1 μg/mL. Thallium(I) and thallium(III) treatment significantly increased structural chromosomal aberrations, with and without gaps, and increased the percentage of aberrant cells without gaps. Furthermore, satellite associations and numerical chromosomal aberration tests showed significant differences at a few of the tested concentrations. The satellite association test is related to aneuploidy. Thallium salts increased satellite associations when hyperploid cells were observed. Our results indicated that the two oxidation states of thallium induced toxicity in vitro – i.e. cyto/genotoxic (clastogenic and aneuploidogenic) effects.

Tardily accelerated neurologic deterioration in two-step thallium intoxication

Thallium intoxication was reported in cases with accidental ingestion, suicide attempt, and criminal adulteration. Reported cases were mostly one-time ingestion, therefore, the clinical course of divisional ingestion has not been fully known. Here, we report a case with two-step thallium intoxication manifesting as tardily accelerated neurologic deterioration. A 16-year-old adolescent was cryptically poisoned with thallium sulfate twice at an interval of 52days. After the first ingestion, neurologic symptoms including visual loss, myalgia, and weakness in legs developed about 40days after the development of acute gastrointestinal symptoms and alopecia. After the second ingestion, neurologic symptoms deteriorated rapidly and severely without gastrointestinal or cutaneous symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging exhibited bilateral optic nerve atrophy. Nerve conduction studies revealed severe peripheral neuropathies in legs. Thallium intoxication was confirmed by an increase in urine thallium egestion. Most of the neurologic manifestations ameliorated in two years, but the visual loss persisted. The source of thallium ingestion was unraveled afterward because a murder suspect in another homicidal assault confessed the forepast adulteration. This discriminating clinical course may be attributable to the cumulative neurotoxicity due to the longer washout-time of thallium in the nervous system than other organs. It is noteworthy that the divisional thallium intoxication may manifest as progressive optic and peripheral neuropathy without gastrointestinal or cutaneous symptoms.

Synthesis, characterization, single crystal X-ray structure determination and packing analysis of thallium(I) anthracene-9-carboxylate, [Tl4(H2O)2(anthracene-9-carboxylate)4

A new tetranuclear thallium complex, [Tl4(H2O)2(anthracene-9-carboxylate)4] was isolated by reaction of hot aqueous solution of thallium(1)sulphate with sodium salt of anthracene-9-carboxylic acid in water taken in appropriate stoichiometric ratio. The newly synthesized complex was characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, spectroscopic studies (FT-IR, UV–Visible, and multinuclear NMR). Complex crystallizes in monoclinic crystal system with P21/n space group. X-ray crystal structure determination revealed the presence of neutral centrosymmetric tetranuclear complex which contains two symmetry independent thallium cations. Tl1 is four-coordinate and bonded to three different anthracene-9-carboxylate anions. The other thallium cation, Tl2, is three-coordinate, being surrounded by two carboxylate oxygen atoms from two different ligands; anthracene-9-carboxylate and a water molecule. The crystal lattice is stabilized by CH/OH⋯O hydrogen bonding and cation⋯π interactions.

Purification and characterization of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver and investigation of the effects of some metal ions on enzyme activity

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (d-glucose 6-phosphate: NADP(+) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49; G6PD) is a key enzyme that is localized in all mammal tissues, especially in cytoplasmic sections and that catalyzes the first step of pentose phosphate metabolic pathway. In this study, G6PD enzyme was purified 1444-fold with a yield of 77% from rainbow trout liver using 2',5'-ADP-sepharose-4B affinity chromatography. Moreover, a purity check of the enzyme was performed with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Some characteristic features like optimal pH, stable pH, optimal temperature and optimal ionic strength were determined for the purified enzyme. In addition to this, in vitro effects of ions like silver nitrate (Ag(+)), thallium sulphate (TI(+)), cobalt (II) nitrate (Co(2+)) and arsenic (V) oxide (As(5+)) on enzyme activity were researched. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of Ag(+), Co(2+) and As(5+) metal ions, which showed an inhibitory effect, were found to be 0.0044, 0.084 and 4.058mM, respectively; and their inhibition constants (K i) were found to be 0.0052±0.00042, 0.087±0.015700 and 4.833± 1.753207mM, respectively. Tl(+) not exhibited inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity.

The influence of process conditions on the formation of thallium sulfide layers on polyethylene by the use of higher polythionic acid H2S33O6

Abstract Thallium sulfide layers of varying composition form on the surface of low-density polyethylene (PE) when the PE films have been sulfurized in a solution of higher polythionic acid H2S33O6, and then immersed in the alkaline solution of thallium (I) sulfate. The concentration of sulfur sorbed-diffused into PE surface increases with the increase of the sulfurization time and concentration of higher polythionic acid solution. The concentration of thallium in the Tlx Sy layers depends on the sulfur concentration sorbed-diffused into PE, the concentration, and temperature of thallium (I) sulfate solutions. By chemical analysis of the obtained sulfide layers it was determined that the values of x and y in the TlxSy layers varies in the intervals: 1xy2S2 were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis in thallium sulfide layers. Scanning Electron (SEM) and Atomic Force (AFM) microscopies were used to characterize surface morphology of thallium sulfide layers. The films deposited on the PE surface have a non-homogeneous structure, and consist of separated islands.

Identification and Characterization of a Compound That Protects Cardiac Tissue from Human Ether-à-go-go-related Gene (hERG)-related Drug-induced Arrhythmias

The human Ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG)-encoded K(+) current, I(Kr) is essential for cardiac repolarization but is also a source of cardiotoxicity because unintended hERG inhibition by diverse pharmaceuticals can cause arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We hypothesized that a small molecule that diminishes I(Kr) block by a known hERG antagonist would constitute a first step toward preventing hERG-related arrhythmias and facilitating drug discovery. Using a high-throughput assay, we screened a library of compounds for agents that increase the IC(70) of dofetilide, a well characterized hERG blocker. One compound, VU0405601, with the desired activity was further characterized. In isolated, Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, optical mapping revealed that dofetilide-induced arrhythmias were reduced after pretreatment with VU0405601. Patch clamp analysis in stable hERG-HEK cells showed effects on current amplitude, inactivation, and deactivation. VU0405601 increased the IC(50) of dofetilide from 38.7 to 76.3 nM. VU0405601 mitigates the effects of hERG blockers from the extracellular aspect primarily by reducing inactivation, whereas most clinically relevant hERG inhibitors act at an inner pore site. Structure-activity relationships surrounding VU0405601 identified a 3-pyridiyl and a naphthyridine ring system as key structural components important for preventing hERG inhibition by multiple inhibitors. These findings indicate that small molecules can be designed to reduce the sensitivity of hERG to inhibitors.

A Fatal Case of Thallium Toxicity: Challenges in Management

Thallium is a highly toxic compound and is occasionally involved in intentional overdoses or criminal poisonings. Accidental poisonings also occur, but are increasingly rare owing to restricted use and availability of thallium. We report a fatal suicidal ingestion of thallium sulfate rodenticide in which multi-dose activated charcoal (MDAC) and Prussian Blue (PB) were both used without changing the outcome. A 36 year old man ingested an unknown amount of thallium sulfate grains from an old rodenticide bottle. He presented to an emergency department (ED) 45 minutes later with abdominal pain and vomiting. On examination he was agitated with a blood pressure of 141/60 mmHg and a heart rate of 146 beats per minute (bpm). He received MDAC during his initial ED management and was started on PB 18 hours post arrival; he was intubated on the following day for airway protection. The patient continued to be tachycardic and hypertensive and subsequently developed renal failure. On hospital day three, the patient developed hypotension that did not respond to fluids. The patient required vasopressors and was transferred to a tertiary care center to undergo continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The patient died shortly after his transfer. His last blood thallium concentration was 5369 mcg/L, a spot urine thallium >2000 mcg/L, and a 24- hour urine thallium was >2000 mcg/L. Though extremely rare, thallium intoxication can be lethal despite early administration of MDAC and use of Prussian blue therapy. Rapid initiation of hemodialysis can be considered in cases of severe thallium poisoning, to remove additional thallium, to correct acid-base disturbance, or to improve renal function.

Study of acute biochemical effects of thallium toxicity in mouse urine by NMR spectroscopy

Thallium (Tl) is a toxic heavy metal and its exposure to the human body causes physiological and biochemical changes due to its interference with potassium-dependent biological reactions. A high-resolution (1)H NMR spectroscopy based metabonomic approach has been applied for investigating acute biochemical effects caused by thallium sulfate (Tl(2)SO(4)). Male strain A mice were divided in three groups and received three doses of Tl(2)SO(4) (5, 10 and 20 mg kg(-1) b.w., i.p.). Urine samples collected at 3, 24, 72 and 96 h post-dose time points were analyzed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectral data were processed and analyzed using principal components analysis to represent biochemical variations induced by Tl(2)SO(4). Results showed Tl-exposed mice urine to have distinct metabonomic phenotypes and revealed dose- and time-dependent clustering of treated groups. The metabolic signature of urine analysis from Tl(2)SO(4)-treated animals exhibited an increase in the levels of creatinine, taurine, hippurate and β-hydroxybutyrate along with a decrease in energy metabolites trimethylamine and choline. These findings revealed Tl-induced disturbed gut flora, membrane metabolite, energy and protein metabolism, representing physiological dysfunction of vital organs. The present study indicates the great potential of NMR-based metabonomics in mapping metabolic response for toxicology, which could ultimately lead to identification of potential markers for Tl toxicity.

Study on the Preparation and Alleviating Fretting Wear Property of Ni-Tl-B Coatings on Steel

Both of coating with lead nitrate as stabilizer (common Ni-B coating) and coating with thallium sulfate as stabilizer (Ni-Tl-B coating) were prepared on steel substrates. Meanwhile, different Ni-Tl-B coatings were also prepared by changing the content of thallium salt in solution. Several kinds of process of electroless plating Ni-B were introduced. Surface morphology was observed with TM-1000 scanning electron microscope, and the alleviating fretting damage property was tested on DELTALAB-NENE high-precision hydraulic servo fretting wear tester. The results show that: The more content of thallium salt, the rougher the surface morphology of coatings is. When the content of thallium salt in plating solution is 2mg/L, the coating has the best alleviating fretting damage property with the coefficient of friction 0.12 in running-in stage.

"Monsmedite", a discredited potassium thallium sulphate mineral from Baia Sprie and its identity with voltaite: The state of the art

"Monsmedite", a discredited potassium thallium sulphate mineral from Baia Sprie and its identity with voltaite: The state of the art

In vitro sensitivity of granulo-monocytic progenitors as a new toxicological cell system and endpoint in the ACuteTox Project

The ACuteTox Project (part of the EU 6th Framework Programme) was started up in January 2005. The aim of this project is to develop a simple and robust in vitro strategy for prediction of human acute systemic toxicity, which could replace animal tests used for regulatory purposes. Our group is responsible for the characterization of the effect of the reference chemicals on the hematopoietic tissue. CFU-GM assay based on the culture of human mononuclear cord blood cells has been used to characterize the effects of the selected compounds on the myeloid progenitors. Previous results have shown the relevance of the CFU-GM assay for the prediction of human acute neutropenia after treatment of antitumoral compounds, and this assay has been recently approved by the ECVAM's Scientific Advisory Committee. Among the compounds included in the study there were pharmaceuticals, environmental pollutants and industrial chemicals. Eleven out of 55 chemicals did not show any cytotoxic effect at the maximum concentration tested. The correlation coefficients of CFU-GM IC50, IC70 and IC90 values with human LC50 values (50% lethal concentration calculated from time-related sublethal and lethal human blood concentrations) were 0.4965, 0.5106 and 0.5142 respectively. Although this correlation is not improve respect to classical in vitro basal cytotoxicity tests such as 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake, chemicals which deviate substantially in the correlation with these assays (colchicine, digoxin, 5-Fluorouracil and thallium sulfate) fitted very well in the linear regression analysis of the CFU-GM progenitors. The results shown in the present study indicate that the sensitivity of CFU-GM progenitors correlates better than the sensitivity of HL-60 cells with human LC50 values and could help to refine the predictability for human acute systemic toxicity when a given chemical may affect to the hematopoietic myeloid system.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Tl2[(S0.6Se0.4)O4]Te(OH)6

The crystal structure of the thallium sulfate selenate tellurate Tl2[(S0.6Se0.4)O4]Te(OH)6 was determined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the P21/c space group. The unit-cell dimensions at 298 K are a = 12.3580(10)Å, b = 7.2310(10)Å, c = 11.9860(10)Å, β = 111.090(10)°, V = 999.33(19)Å3, Dx = 5.029 g/cm3, and Z = 4. The R value is 0.047 for 1799 reflections. The anions are disposed in a number of sheets of pure (S,Se)O4 tetrahedra, alterning with sheets of pure Te(OH)6 octahedra. All of those planes are intercalated in a bidimensional arrangement by Tl+ cations.

Uptake of thallium from artificially contaminated soils by kale (Brassica oleracea L., var. acephala)

A pot experiment focused on the study of factors influencing thallium transfer from contaminated soils into kale (green cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, variety Winterbor F1) was evaluated. Three different types of topsoils with naturally low content of thallium (heavy, medium and medium-light soil) were used for pot experiments. The soils were contaminated with thallium sulfate to achieve five levels of contamination (0, 0.52, 2.10, 4.20 and 5.88 mg/kg). There were six replicates for each combination (90 pots in the experiment). The first part of the experiment started in the year of contamination (2001) and continued in 2003. The soil samples and the samples of kale (leaves and stalks were sampled separately) were collected and analysed. Kale was found to be able to accumulate Tl without any influence on yield. The highest thallium concentration was found in the leaves of kale in the first year of the experiment and reached 326 mg/kg dry matter. Bioaccumulation factor (Biological Absorption Coefficient &amp;ndash; BAC) was found to be over 80 during the first year of the experiment. In the third year the BAC was around 3 for the soil with the highest pH and the highest organic matter content but as high as 15 for an acid soil with the lowest content of organic matter and the lowest Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of soils. The content of thallium in the leaves of kale was found to be 7 to 10 times higher than in the stalks in the third year. In the first year this ratio was up to 18. From these findings it can be concluded that the ability of some plants of Brassicacea family, that are planted as common vegetables, to accumulate thallium is very high and can be a serious danger for food chains. Neutral soils high in CEC and organic matter are able to bind thallium more effectively than poor acid soils and the transfer of Tl into plants from these soils is substantially lower. The uptake of Tl from contaminated soils into kale can be very high and without any negative effect on the plant growth. The transfer of Tl into kale decreases with the time necessary to reach the equilibrium between the added Tl and the soil (ageing of a sample).