Lead toxicity and metabolism in animals

Journal Article · Mon Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 1976 · Feedstuffs; (United States)

OSTI ID:5574965

Neathery, M W; Miller, W J

The main biological interest in lead is its toxicity. Among farm animals, ruminants are most often affected, followed by horses, poultry and swine. Although information is sparse, inhalation of airborne lead is of much less practical importance than ingestion. Most commonly, acute lead poisoning in cattle arises from eating flaking paint, motor oil, linoleum and certain types of grease and putty. Ingestion of lead is one of the most frequently reported causes of acute poisoning, especially in cattle. General clinical symptoms of lead toxicity in farm animals include anemia, depressed appearance, anorexia and muscular incoordination. A special effect in horses is a laryngeal paralysis which produces an obstruction in the air passage causing them to roar. Lead absorption from the intestine is relatively low (less than 2%), and accumulation occurs mostly in the bone, liver and kidney. Very little is secreted into the milk or concentrated into the muscles. However, lead easily passes the placental barrier, causing serious damage and sometimes death to the fetus. 48 references, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens
• OSTI ID: 5574965
• Journal Information: Feedstuffs; (United States), Vol. 48:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CATTLE
INJURIES
HORSES
LEAD
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
TOXICITY
RABBITS
SHEEP
BILE
BLOOD
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
BONE MARROW
BONE TISSUES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LIVER
MUSCLES
SPLEEN
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
TRANSLOCATION
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
RUMINANTS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)