The efficacy of several chelating agents in alleviating acute lead intoxication has been investigated in male Swiss mice. The relative effectiveness of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethyleneglycolbis-(beta-amino-ethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA), L-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), ascorbic acid, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (DMPS) in reducing lethality of lead was examined. Significant increases in survival were noted with CDTA, ascorbic acid, DMSA, and DMPS. Therapeutic effectiveness (TEF) was determined for these compounds; TEF for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and for 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) was also determined; CDTA (2.33) and EDTA (1.73) showed the highest values. In subsequent experiments, the effect of the chelating agents on the distribution and excretion of lead was investigated. Lead acetate trihydrate was administered subcutaneously at doses of 37.8 mmol/kg (LD50), and fifteen minutes later, chelators were given intraperitoneally at doses approximately equal to one-fourth of their respective LD50 values. EDTA, DTPA and CDTA were the most effective agents in increasing the urinary excretion of lead, whereas DTPA, CDTA, and DDC increased significantly the fecal excretion of lead. EDTA, DDC, and CDTA were the most effective chelators in reducing the concentration of lead found in various tissues. On the basis of these results, CDTA may be considered as an alternative in the treatment of acute lead poisoning.