Lead poisoning in cattle and horses following long-term exposure to lead
Aronson, A.L.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 33(3): 627-629
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 4552303 Document Number: 46019
Lead poisoning involving deaths in cattle and horses has occurred in the vicinity of a number of industrial lead operations. Pastures and crops were contaminated by fumes and dust emitted from lead industries that settled out on the surrounding countryside. Horses appeared more susceptible than cattle to poisoning by the chronic ingestion of lead. Whereas horses exposed to an estimated daily intake as low as 1.7 mg/kg (approx. 80 ppm dry weight in forage) were poisoned, a similar intake in cattle did not produce observable ill effects. Clinical signs of lead poisoning occurred in cattle with a daily intake of 6-7 mg lead/kg of body weight. It is unlikely that cattle or horses would eat sufficient quantities of roadside grass contaminated by lead from motor vehicle exhaust to result in clinical lead poisoning.