title: Lead isotope profiling in dairy calves.
abstract: Lead (Pb) is a common cause of heavy metal poisonings in cattle. Sources of Pb on farms include crankcase oil, machinery grease, batteries, plumbing, and paint chips. Consequently, consumption of Pb from these sources may negatively impact animal health and Pb may be inadvertently introduced into the food supply. Therefore, the scope of poisoning incidents must be clearly assessed and sources of intoxication identified and strategies to mitigate exposure evaluated and implemented to prevent future exposures. Stable isotope analysis by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has proven itself of value in forensic investigations. We report on the extension of Pb stable isotope analysis to bovine tissues and profile comparisons with paint chips and soils collected from an affected dairy farm to elucidate the primary source. Pb occurs naturally as four stable isotopes: (204)Pb, (206)Pb, (207)Pb, and (208)Pb. Herein a case is reported to illustrate the use of (207)Pb/(206)Pb and (208)Pb/(206)Pb ratios to link environmental sources of exposure with tissues from a poisoned animal. Chemical Pb profiling provides a valuable tool for field investigative approaches to Pb poisoning in production agriculture and is applicable to subclinical exposures.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Rd, Lansing, MI 48910, United States; Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 784 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States. Electronic address: buchweitzj@dcpah.msu.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buchweitz
authors.affiliation: Country Companion Veterinary Services, 116 Old Amity Rd, Bethany, CT 06524, United States.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McClure-Brinton
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Rd, Lansing, MI 48910, United States.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zyskowski
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Rd, Lansing, MI 48910, United States.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stensen
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Rd, Lansing, MI 48910, United States.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lehner
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007554:Isotopes; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007554:Isotopes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead
keywords: Agriculture; Cattle; Dairy; ICP-MS; Isotopes; Lead; Paint; Soil