Mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and teratogenicity of zinc

Abstract

Zinc is a common element in the human environment and constitutes an important trace element intervening in many biological processes. Toxicity of zinc is low; zinc deficiency represents, however, a hazard for human health. Zinc is not mutagenic and has little, if any, clastogenic properties. Zinc can induce tumours but only following local application, and does not represent a carcinogenic risk to man. It is still uncertain whether zinc can cause malignant transformation but zinc is needed for cellular proliferation of existing tumours and tumour growth is retarded by zinc deficiency. Zinc is not teratogenic; it can, in fact, avert teratogenicity of other agents. Conversely, zinc deficiency may be harmful to the developing organism.