Transfer of cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic from feed into various organs and tissues of fattening lambs.

Abstract

Supplementary cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic were given to 48 (32 housed, 16 grazed) fattening lambs 10 weeks old for 3 months. Elements were incorporated in concentrates as soluble compounds or as present in biological sludge. When diet was supplemented with soluble compounds content of Cd, Pb, Hg and As was 2, 10, 0.1 and 2 mg/kg DM, respectively. When biological sludge was added to the diet corresponding values were 1, 14, 0.3 and 2.5 mg/kg DM and 1, 18, 0.2 and 1 mg/kg DM. Only As increased in muscle tissue as a response to increased intake. Cd and Pb contents of liver and kidney increased with increased intake. For lambs given soluble compounds Pb and Cd in liver and kidney were similar at 0.3 and 1 mg/kg, respectively. In brain tissue only Pb was increased. Hg in kidney was about 10 times higher than in liver. When Hg was given as a soluble compound, concentration in kidneys of lambs kept on pasture was 0.4 mg/kg. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)