Blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels in donkeys and mules near a secondary lead smelter in Jamaica, 1987-88

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Veterinary and Human Toxicology; (USA)

OSTI ID:6936585

Ostrowski, S R; Gunter, E W; Matte, T D ^[1]

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1. Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA (USA)

During the course of an investigation into community lead poisoning near a secondary lead smelter in Jamaica, blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels were measured in 8 exposed and 6 (3 Jamaican, 3 US) unexposed donkeys and mules. The blood lead levels of 6 animals in the contaminated area ranged from 7.5 to 33 micrograms/dl (mean = 17.6 micrograms/dl), compared to 1.8 and 2.4 in unexposed Jamaican animals. More striking was the difference in zinc protoporphyrin levels; all 8 exposed donkeys and mules had values between 900 and 1890 micrograms/dl, compared with a range of 34-46 micrograms/dl for 3 Jamaican control donkeys. These findings suggest that zinc protoporphyrin may be a useful method of screening for subclinical lead toxicity in equines.

• OSTI ID: 6936585
• Journal Information: Veterinary and Human Toxicology; (USA), Vol. 32:1; ISSN 0145-6296
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LEAD
TOXICITY
PORPHYRINS
BIOSYNTHESIS
ERYTHROCYTES
HORSES
JAMAICA
METABOLISM
SMELTERS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
GREATER ANTILLES
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
ISLANDS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
WEST INDIES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology