Anatomy and physiology labs ||

Experiment 2Effect of Chelation Therapy on Arterial Plaque Levels Experiment Inventory

Materials 4% EDTA Solution

8% EDTA Solution

*Permanent Marker

*Water

*(2) Uncooked Eggs

Labware (3) 250 mL Beakers

100 mL Graduated Cylinder

Note: You must provide the materials listed in *red.

EXPERIMENT 2: EFFECT OF CHELATION THERAPY ON ARTERIAL PLAQUE LEVELS Chelation is a widely accepted treatment to remove heavy metals from the human body. Chelation therapy relies on a chelating agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to bind and remove heavy metals from a surface.

Chelation therapy has been used to treat lead poisoning, and evidence suggests that additional health concerns could also be treated with chelation therapy. For example, atherosclerosis, an arterial disease that causes white blood cell and low-density lipoprotein deposits on the interior surface of arteries, may be minimized through chelation therapy. Studies using chelation therapy to treat psoriasis, Alzheimer’s disease, angina, and other diseases have also shown positive results. However, these reports are less definitive, and further research is needed to draw widespread conclusions. In this experiment, you will observe the effect of EDTA on eggshells and draw conclusions about the efficacy of chelation therapy as an atherosclerosis treatment.

Note: The EDTA provided in your kit should not under any circumstances be consumed. Gloves should be worn when working with eggshells. Wash hands and all labware with warm, soapy water when finished with the experiment.

PROCEDURE

1. Use the 100 mL graduated cylinder to measure and pour approximately 150 mL of water into a 250 mL beaker. Label this beaker “Water.”

2. Carefully pour all of the 4% EDTA solution into another 250 mL beaker. Label this beaker “4% EDTA.”

3. Carefully pour all of the 8% EDTA solution into another 250 mL beaker. Label this beaker “8% EDTA.”

4. Standing over a sink or trash receptacle, carefully crack each uncooked egg in half to create four equally sized dome- shaped pieces. Rinse the yolk and egg whites down the drain with running water. Discard one piece of eggshell in the trash; you will need only three for this experiment.

5. Gently rinse the eggshells in warm water, being careful not to break the shell. Place one shell into each beaker with the dome side down.

Note: It is best to fill each dome with EDTA or water. This will cause the eggshell to sink toward the bottom of the beaker, rather than float at the top, resulting in greater solution coverage.

6. Observe the eggshells over the next 7 – 14 days. Record daily observations of the shells in Table 3.

7. Dispose of all eggshells in the trash when you have completed the experiment.

© eScience Labs, 2016

Data SheetExperiment 2 Data Sheet Table 3: Eggshell Observations

Day Water Observations 4% EDTA Observations 8% EDTA Observations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14

© eScience Labs, 2016