Lead Levels in the Eggs of a Chicken With Lead Toxicosis

Abstract

A 1.5-year-old Polish hen was presented with a history of watery droppings and poor vent tone. Results of diagnostic tests revealed blood lead at levels considered to be toxic. Chelation therapy was started with calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The hen was laying eggs before, during, and after chelation therapy. Eggs were tested for the presence of lead by combining yolk and albumen together. Before chelation therapy, the level of lead in the egg tested was 14 μg. Two days after the end of chelation therapy, results of a second blood lead test revealed a drop to nontoxic levels. No lead was detected in the combined yolks and albumen of eggs collected 7-11 days after the end of chelation therapy. Four weeks after the end of chelation therapy, no lead was identified in the shells of tested eggs.

Sub-chronic treatment with high doses of ascorbic acid reduces lead levels in hen eggs intentionally exposed to a concentrated source of lead: a pilot study

“…Reducing exposure to potentially toxic heavy metals is a health priority. Previous studies investigated the use of several chelators to decrease toxicity in the incidents of exposure to lead [25]. Some of the previously used chelators were potentially toxic and could not be easily removed from tissues, thus, could present another risk to health [13,25].…”

“…Previous studies investigated the use of several chelators to decrease toxicity in the incidents of exposure to lead [25]. Some of the previously used chelators were potentially toxic and could not be easily removed from tissues, thus, could present another risk to health [13,25]. In addition to its well-known antioxidant properties, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is known to possess metal chelating activities [26].…”