BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TELLURIUM - A REVIEW

Although tellurium is not regarded as a true trace element, in that th ere is no recognized biological role for tellurium in human tissues an d no clinical deficiency syndrome, nonetheless the amounts of telluriu m in the human body are reported to be higher than several of the reco gnized trace elements. This article reviews known biological effects o f tellurium, including the rare accounts of tellurium poisoning in man . The experimental neurotoxic effects of tellurium, in both peripheral nerves and cerebral tissues, may serve as useful model systems for hu man neurological diseases.