Cadmium-109 and methyl mercury-203 metabolism, tissue distribution, and secretion into milk of cows

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1973 · J. Dairy Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(74)85033-2· OSTI ID:5650671

Neathery, M W; Miller, W J; Gentry, R P; Stake, P E; Blackmon, D M

Metabolism of cadmium-109 and methyl mercury-203 was studied in six lactating Jersey cows for 14 days following single tracer oral doses. Most of the cadmium-109 was excreted in feces with only .05% in urine. When the cows were killed 14 to 16 days after dosing, kidney and liver had highest cadmium-109. About .75% of the cadmium-109 was retained in the body with 34% of this in gastrointestinal tract and contents, 32% in liver, and 10% in kidney. In fetal tissues highest cadmium-109 was in kidney, tibia, and liver whereas fetal liver had highest methyl mercury-203. Apparent methyl mercury-203 absorption was 59% with 1.1% in urine. Highest concentration was in kidney, followed by liver, skeletal muscles, heart, smooth muscle, spleen, lung, brain, ovaries, and pancreas. Of total body mercury-203, muscle had about 72% and liver 7%. In 14 days, only .17% of mercury-203 dose was secreted into milk. Cadmium-109 in milk was below detectable limits of .00008% of the dose/day. Feed of cattle kept for meat should be protected from methyl mercury, at least near slaughter. Milk is protected from methyl mercury. In sharp contrast to zinc, little of the ingested cadmium appears in muscle or milk. 31 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens
• OSTI ID: 5650671
• Journal Information: J. Dairy Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Dairy Sci.; (United States) Vol. 57; ISSN JDSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BRAIN
CADMIUM
CADMIUM 109
CADMIUM ISOTOPES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CATTLE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CLEARANCE
COWS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXCRETION
FECES
FEMALE GENITALS
FETUSES
FOOD
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
GONADS
HEART
HEAVY NUCLEI
INGESTION
INTAKE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
KIDNEYS
LACTATION
LIVER
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MERCURY 205
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METABOLISM
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
MILK
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MUSCLES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OVARIES
PANCREAS
RADIOISOTOPES
RUMINANTS
SKELETON
SPLEEN
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
URINE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES