A study was conducted on the effects of a peroral liquid with metallothionein as its major component on the concentrations of lead,zinc and copper in blood and tissues.Mice were exposed to lead in deionized drinking water at 546.22 mg/L,and those in test groups were additionally given 1.67,3.34, 10.0 mL/kg BW test substance by gastric lavage.Normal control mice received deionized water.Following a 30 day ingestion period,the mice were killed and samples of whole blood were collected and livers,kidneys,brains and femurs were isolated for the determination of lead,zinc and copper by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.Mice in different lead-exposed groups ingested comparable amounts of lead.Treatment with test substance resulted in significant decrease in blood lead level,and 10.0 mL/kg BW dose could significantly minimize lead concentration in mice liver and increase copper level in mice femur compared with those seen in mice exposed to lead alone.The test substance produced no significant adverse effects on zinc and copper concentrations in blood and other tissues.