Lead toxicity and metabolism in animals
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), Journal Name: Feedstuffs; (United States) Vol. 48:7; ISSN FDSTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BILE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BONE MARROW
BONE TISSUES
CATTLE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GLANDS
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
HORSES
INFORMATION
INJURIES
LEAD
LIVER
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
MUSCLES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
RABBITS
RUMINANTS
SHEEP
SPLEEN
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
TISSUES
TOXICITY
TRANSLOCATION
VERTEBRATES