Chronic exposure of sheep to a zinc smelter in Peru

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(89)80020-9· OSTI ID:5872781

Reif, J S; Ameghino, E; Aaronson, M J

Liver levels of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, and zinc were assessed in adult female sheep living in the vicinity of a zinc smelter in Peru. The study was conducted on a large sheep-raising cooperative divided into seven management units, operated under a standardized husbandry system. Soil samples were analyzed for the same metals at varying distances from the smelter. A gradient of concentration of heavy metals in soil was found between 1 and 56 km from the smelter. Soil concentrations for all metals except manganese decreased significantly with increasing distance from the smelter. The strongest correlations were found for copper, lead, and zinc (P less than 0.001). Topographic features and prevailing wind direction appeared to play a role in the dispersion of pollutants. Liver samples were obtained from 153 sheep on five units of the cooperative. The centers of the units sampled were between 13 and 56 km from the smelter. Hepatic concentrations of arsenic, lead, manganese, and zinc decreased significantly with increasing distance from the smelter. Liver arsenic and liver zinc were significantly related to soil concentrations. Liver levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and manganese in sheep from the cooperative were significantly higher than those detected in control sheep from southern Peru. Sheep populations may serve as biological monitors for heavy metal accumulation and environmental carcinogenesis.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5872781
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 49:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM
COPPER
LEAD
MANGANESE
PERU
LAND POLLUTION
SOILS
CONTAMINATION
ZINC
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
LIVER
SHEEP
ANIMALS
BODY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
LATIN AMERICA
MAMMALS
METALS
ORGANS
POLLUTION
RUMINANTS
SEMIMETALS
SOUTH AMERICA
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)