Robert Yokel - Ph.D.

Dr. Yokel's research focuses on neurotoxic metals, their toxicokinetics and chelation. Specific interests include entry into and exit from the brain, oral bioavailability, in vitro and biological assessment of chelators and mechanisms of neurotoxicity. Preparations used include whole-animal preparations and cells in culture. Analytical techniques include atomic absorption spectrometry as well as radiation counting and accelerator mass spectrometric quantification of isotopic tracers.

Selected Publications/Presentations

• Krewski, D., Yokel, R.A., Nieboer, E., Borchelt, D., Cohen, J., Harry, J., Kacew, S., Lindsay, J., Mahfouz, A.M., Rondeau, V., Human health risk assessment for aluminium, aluminium oxide, and aluminium hydroxide, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, B. 10(Suppl 1):1-269, 2007.
• Zhou, Y., Harris, W. R., Yokel, R.A. The influence of citrate, maltolate and fluoride on the gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum at a drinking water-relevant concentration: A 26Al and 14C study. J. Inorganic Biochem. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2007.11.019
• Sgren, B., Iregren, A., Elinder, C-G., Yokel, R.A. Aluminum, Ch. 17 in: L. Friberg, G. Nordberg, B. Fowler, M. Nordberg (eds), Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals, 3rd Edition, Academic Press, 2007, pp 339-352.
• Yokel, R.A., Blood-brain barrier flux of aluminum, manganese, iron and other metals suspected to contribute to metal-induced neurodegeneration, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 10:223-253, 2006.
• Yokel, R.A., and Florence R. L. Aluminum bioavailability from the approved food additive leavening agent acidic sodium aluminum phosphate, incorporated into a baked good, is lower than from water, Toxicology, 227:86-93, 2006.
• Yokel, R.A., Lasley, S.M., Dorman, D.C. The speciation of metals in mammals influences their toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics and therefore human health risk assessment. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, B, 9:63-85, 2006.
• Zhou, Y., Yokel, R.A. The chemical species of aluminum influences its paracellular flux across and uptake into Caco-2 cells, a model of gastrointestinal absorption. Toxicol. Sci., 87, 15-26, 2005.
• Saiyed, Salim M., and Yokel, R.A. Aluminium content of some foods and food products in the USA, with aluminium food additives. Food Addit. Contam., 22:234-244, 2005.
• Yokel, R.A., Urbas, A. A., Lodder, R. A., Selegue, J. P., and Florence R. L. 26Al-containing acidic and basic sodium aluminum phosphate preparation and use in studies of oral aluminum bioavailability from foods utilizing 26Al as an aluminum tracer. Nucl. Instr. Meth. Physics Res. Section B. 229:471-478, 2005.
• Crossgrove, J.S., Yokel, R.A. Manganese distribution across the blood-brain barrier. IV. Evidence for brain influx through store-operated calcium channels. NeuroToxicology, 26:297-307, 2005.
• Crossgrove, J.S., Yokel, R.A. Manganese distribution across the blood-brain barrier. III. The divalent metal transporter-1 is not the major mechanism mediating brain manganese uptake. NeuroToxicology, 25:451-460, 2004.
• Yokel, R.A. and Crossgrove, J.S., Manganese toxicokinetics at the blood-brain barrier, Health Effects Institute Research Report 119, January, 2004, available at http://www.healtheffects.org/Pubs/Yokel.pdf.
• Yokel, R.A., Crossgrove, J.S., Bukaveckas, B.L Manganese distribution across the blood-brain barrier. II. Manganese efflux from the brain does not appear to be carrier mediated. NeuroToxicology, 24:15-22, 2003.
• Crossgrove, J.S., Allen, D.D., Bukaveckas, B.L., Rhineheimer, S.S., Yokel, R.A. Manganese distribution across the blood-brain barrier. I. Evidence for carrier-mediated influx of manganese citrate as well as manganese and manganese transferrin. NeuroToxicology, 24:3-13, 2003.
• Yokel, R.A., Wilson, M., Harris, W.R. and Halestrap, A.P. Aluminum citrate uptake by immortalized brain endothelial cells: Implications for its blood-brain barrier transport. Brain Research 930: 101-110, 2002.
• Yokel, R.A., Brain uptake, retention and efflux of aluminum and manganese. Environ. Health Perspect. Monograph Series, 110: Suppl. 5, 699-704, 2002.
• Yokel, R.A., Aluminum chelation principles and recent advances. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 228:97-113, 2002.

Website Links

• JAD2006;10, 223-253 [pdf]
• The influence of citrate, maltolate and fluoride... [pdf] doi:10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2007.11.019