What Are the Benefits of EDTA?

The central benefit of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), whether in medicine, food preservation or chemical analysis, is its ability to bind tightly to metals, sequestering them. The bonding is so tight because it constitutes six simultaneous bonds for each metal ion.

Food Preservation

• Food manufacturers use EDTA to sequester (withdraw from use) trace metals such as iron, copper, and nickel that entered food during harvesting and processing. Such metals can speed food breakdown and spoilage by catalyzing the oxidation of the fats in the food. Though the metals remain in the food, the EDTA binds to the metals in such a way that they can't catalyze such oxidation. The EDTA thus effectively works as a food preservative.

Soil Treatment

• High concentrations of heavy metals in soil from contaminating industries can pose a health risk via ground water contamination. EDTA has been used to sequester such metals. Research is still continuing as to the effectiveness of such treatment. A question has arisen as to whether having EDTA in the water system is preferable, even though our foods are full of EDTA and it is administered internally as a chelating agent. Another concern is that the EDTA bonds on heavy metals are biodegradable, in other words they won't last long in soil.

Chelation

• Several trace metals are excreted from the body only slowly, in some cases slower than they are taken in. EDTA and other sequestrants are used to speed the excretory process, especially if a patient is deficient in any of the mechanisms for their elimination. This process is called chelation (kee-LAY-shun). EDTA is especially effective for lead poisoning, but also for iron, arsenic and mercury.

Emergency Treatment

• EDTA is also used to lower dangerously high calcium levels in blood, and in emergency cases of digitalis poisoning. (Digitalis is used to slow heart rate and strengthen contractions. Overmedication can lead to heart arrhythmia.)

Metal Titration

• Titration is a chemical analysis that involves gradually adding a solution of known concentration into a sample of a solution of unknown concentration until the solute of unknown concentration is used up, or reacted away. From the known quantity of solution used, the concentration of the solvent can be determined. When the solute of unknown concentration is a heavy metal, EDTA may be used as the titrant. Titration of metal ions is called "complexometric titration."