ABSTRACT
The toxicity of the food phosphates commonly used in foods has been studied by numerous investigators. Intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of the phosphates, including the higher polyphosphates, produces only small differences in the LD50 levels, probably due to rapid enzymatic hydrolysis or the polyphosphate chains to orthophosphate in the blood. Phosphates, and particularly polyphosphates, are known to precipitate or sequester calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, and similar ions essential to human metabolism. Orthophosphates are readily absorbed through the intestinal wall. However, the chain length of the condensed phosphates determines the amount that will be absorbed. The results of animal feeding studies reported in the scientific literature indicate that levels of 0.5% of the phosphates could be tolerated in the diet without adverse physiological effects. Male rats failed to grow as rapidly on 1% trimetaphosphate diets, although female rats grew normally. Slight increases in kidney weight and renal calcification in a few rats were found for the phosphates at the 1.8% level.
