Widely used in medicine, EDTA disodium salt dihydrate is a key chelating agent for treating heavy metal poisoning, especially lead toxicity. It binds metal ions in the bloodstream, allowing them to be excreted through urine. In healthcare settings, it is also added to blood collection tubes to prevent clotting by sequestering calcium. In the food industry, it serves as a preservative by deactivating metal ions that promote oxidation, helping to maintain color, flavor, and shelf life in products like dressings, canned foods, and beverages. It is commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products to enhance stability by preventing metal-induced degradation of active ingredients. This improves the longevity and performance of lotions, shampoos, and creams. In industrial applications, it removes calcium and magnesium from water, improving the efficiency of detergents and cleaning agents. It is also used in textile processing and pulp/paper manufacturing to control metal contaminants. In laboratories, it is essential in molecular biology for cell dissociation and as a component in buffers, where it stabilizes enzymes and prevents metal-catalyzed reactions.