Lead poisoning in cattle and buffalo near primary lead-zinc smelter in India.
Varying degrees of lead (Pb) poisoning was recorded in cows and buffaloes near a primary lead-zinc smelter in India. Affected animals had history of clinical signs characterized by head pressing, violent movement, blindness and salivation. These animals revealed considerably high lead levels in blood (1.43 +/- 0.07 ppm) and milk (0.75 +/- 0.19 ppm). Animals from the same place without the history of clinical signs suggestive of Pb poisoning recorded lower blood Pb levels than the affected animals; however, their blood Pb was higher than that reported for cattle in rural and urban areas of India. Affected animals also carried high levels of cadmium (Cd) in blood (0.11 +/- 0.01 ppm) and milk (0.05 +/- 0.01 ppm). These values were considerably higher than those for rural cattle in India. The findings indicated varying degrees of exposure of animals to Pb and Cd in the vicinity of the smelter.
Dwivedi
S K
SK
Environmental Laboratory, Division of Medicine, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar.
Swarup
D
D
Dey
S
S
Patra
R C
RC
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D007194:India; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008669:Metallurgy; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead