Journal of toxicology and environmental health
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J Toxicol Environ Health · Apr 1983
Comparative StudyEstimated intakes of pyrrolizidine alkaloids by humans. A comparison with dose rates causing tumors in rats.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning in humans is associated with the consumption of plants containing the alkaloids, either as contaminants of grains or as infusions for medicinal purposes. The alkaloids are carcinogenic in rats but have not been associated, so far, with tumors in humans. ⋯ In the more chronic poisoning outbreaks, the intake rate is comparable with a carcinogenic dose in rats. The long-term observation of survivors of these outbreaks would offer an opportunity for determining whether pyrrolizidine alkaloids are carcinogenic in humans.