Lead poisoning associated with recycled wood products

Payne, Jo; Otter, A.; Cranwell, Mick; Jones, J.G.; Wessels, Mark; Whitaker, Kate

doi:10.1136/vr.162.6.191-b

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…For example the UK Veterinary Laboratory Agency recently reported the most common sources of lead being discarded batteries and old paint, in particular associated with recycled sawdust and shavings as animal bedding. 26,50 The UK Contaminants in Food Regulations 2006 specified that lead concentrations should not exceed 0.5 mg/kg (fresh weight) in offal or 0.1 mg/kg in meat intended for human consumption. The Veterinary Laboratory Agency suggests animals are at risk for subclinical lead poisoning when exposed to materials with more than 1000 mg/kg lead dry weight, 50 but subclinical cases are poorly defined overall.…”

Section: Public Health Threat Of Subclinical Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public health implications of lead poisoning in backyard chickens and cattle: four cases

Roegner¹,

Giannitti

Woods

et al. 2013

VMRR

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Lead intoxication in livestock has historically been associated with cattle turned out to pasture and accidental ingestion of lead from drinking crankcase oil, licking grease from machinery, chewing on plumbing or batteries, or drinking water contaminated from leaching materials. Even with the decrease in manufactured items produced with lead, contaminants persist in the landscape and may enter the food supply through animal products. Changing patterns of open range herds moving to new pasture and the increased popularity of urban/suburban backyard chickens or other livestock necessitates public awareness about the clinical signs of lead intoxication, the potential for subclinical animals, public health concerns, particularly for exposure in children, and testing options available. Cases of lead intoxication in livestock demand a thorough case work-up to identify all sources of lead, address subclinical cases, evaluate risk to consumers, and make management suggestions for future prevention. We discuss four recent cases of confirmed lead poisoning in backyard chickens and open range cattle and assess the public health implications therein. Taken as a whole and considering the potential of the remaining herd or flock to be affected without necessarily showing signs, public health officials and veterinarians should be prepared to advise clients on case work-up and management and prevention considerations. Backyard chickens and cattle may not present for suspected lead poisoning as in several of the cases discussed herein yet may still contain concerning tissue or blood levels. The authors believe increased surveillance through heavy metal screens is crucial to adequately protect public health.

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Section: Public Health Threat Of Subclinical Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public health implications of lead poisoning in backyard chickens and cattle: four cases

Roegner¹,

Giannitti

Woods

et al. 2013

VMRR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Lead poisoning in cattle

Bates¹,

Payne

2017

Livestock

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Lead is a ubiquitous heavy metal with no biological role. Lead poisoning is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of poisoning in cattle, which in addition to causing animal health and animal welfare issues can have significant economic and food safety implications. Clinical signs of lead poisoning in cattle include gastrointestinal and neurological signs with anorexia, bellowing, dullness, blindness and head pressing. Convulsions, opisthotonus and coma also occur in severe cases. If these severe clinical signs are missed lead poisoning can appear as a sudden death. Longer term, fertility can be impaired. Management involves identifying the source and preventing further exposure by removing it or by moving the cattle away, providing supportive care to exposed cattle with chelation therapy, if practical, and ensuring that issues associated with food safety are addressed. Although animals with less severe clinical signs can recover, tissue lead concentrations can remain elevated for months to years posing a potential issue with lead residues in the food chain.

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Lead poisoning associated with recycled wood products

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Public health implications of lead poisoning in backyard chickens and cattle: four cases

Public health implications of lead poisoning in backyard chickens and cattle: four cases

Lead poisoning in cattle

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