The efficacy of alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(5-sodiumsulfonate, 2-furyl) acrylic acid (MSFA) and alpha-mercapto-beta-(5-acetoxymethyl, 2-furyl) acrylic acid (MAFA) to mobilize intracellularly bound cadmium in liver and kidney was investigated in rats pre-exposed to cadmium. MFA was effective in reducing cadmium levels of hepatic and renal supernatant cytosolic fraction (SCF) while MSFA and MAFA were effective in lowering cadmium levels of renal SCF and hepatic SCF respectively. All the chelating agents also enhanced the excretion of cadmium more in feces than in urine. However, substitution on the furan ring lowered cadmium mobilizing efficacy of the parent compound, MFA. The treatment with MFA did not affect the status of endogenous zinc and copper while the treatment with MSFA and MAFA enhanced their excretion. MSFA increased hepatic and renal zinc and renal copper while MAFA increased their copper levels.