Tellurite poisoning remains unsolved

Sulfate assimilation mediates tellurite accumulation and toxicity in yeast

ABSTRACT

Despite a century of research and increasing environmental and human health concerns, the

mechanistic basis for the toxicity and intracellular accumulation of derivates of the metalloid

tellurium, in particular the oxyanion tellurite, remains unsolved.

INTRODUCTION

The metalloid tellurium (Te) and particularly its oxyanion tellurite, TeO(3)(2), is one of the rarest

elements in Earth’s crust and it is also highly toxic to living organisms. Despite more than 100

years of physiological and molecular research, the mechanism by which tellurium exerts its

toxicity still constitutes a scientific conundrum (8). This toxicity is of concern because the

expanding use of tellurium in electronics appliances, optics and batteries together with its

natural occurrence in sulfide rich ores give rise to high local concentrations in connection

with waste dumps and metallurgical plants with consequent detrimental effects on the

environment and human health. In fact, although tellurium is currently not known to be an

essential element it is nevertheless one of the most abundant trace elements in humans,

side note. 32 is before 33 in freemasonry

https://ec.asm.org/content/eukcell/early/2010/07/30/EC.00078-10.full.pdf