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G Vos

Publications and source records attributed to G Vos.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

[Lead poisoning in cattle in north Netherlands. October 1989-January 1990].

By the end of 1989 a serious lead intoxication of cattle occurred in the northern part of the Netherlands (provinces Groningen and Friesland). This intoxication appeared to be caused by contaminated feed. Over 300 farms were stricken, with about 15,500 animals (mostly dairy cattle). In a period of one to four weeks these animals consumed about 1,000 kg of lead. This resulted in lead levels in milk, livers, and kidneys above the regulatory safety limits. Thanks to the chelating therapy that was rapidly applied by the local veterinarians, only about 30 animals died of an acute lead intoxication. The cooperating governmental and private authorities took action to prevent exposure of consumers to lead-contaminated animal products. Based on careful estimations, predictions were made of the lead levels to be expected in animals products and the time needed for depletion of these levels. The appropriate animals were marked to ensure their identification, and the decline in time of the lead levels in milk and offals was conscientiously monitored. In the second week of 1990 the lead concentrations were decreased to levels well below the regulatory limits, and hence the marks were removed from the animals.

Animal Feed

Cadmium and lead in muscle tissue and organs of broilers, turkeys and spent hens and in mechanically deboned poultry meat.

Cadmium and lead levels have been determined in meat, livers and kidneys of turkeys, in livers and kidneys of spent hens, in kidneys of broilers and in mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM), by dry ashing of the sample with Mg(NO3)2 followed by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric analysis. The possible age-dependent cadmium and lead accumulation in livers and kidneys of turkeys was also studied. The cadmium concentrations in meat and organs of poultry are in good agreement with data reported for other countries, but lead concentrations were low compared with most data reported in the literature. The cadmium levels in kidneys and livers of turkeys increased with age, whilst the lead concentrations were unrelated to age. The cadmium and lead concentrations in industrially prepared MDPM from broiler carcasses were very low (less than 0.001-0.004 mg/kg and less than 0.01-0.06 mg/kg, respectively). In MDPM prepared from backs (including the kidneys) and necks, elevated cadmium concentrations were found. The increase was related to the cadmium concentrations in the kidneys. In MDPM prepared from broilers, turkeys and spent hens the cadmium concentrations varied between 0.001 and 0.002 mg/kg, 0.005 and 0.006 mg/kg and 0.007 and 0.028 mg/kg, respectively. For lead the concentrations in meat and MDPM were similar. It can be concluded from the results that in MDPM prepared from spent hens and possibly turkeys, when incorporating the kidneys, cadmium concentrations greater than 0.05 mg/kg, (the legal limit for cadmium in poultry meat in The Netherlands) may occur.

Aging

Lead intoxication in cattle: a case report.

During the autumn of 1989 a feed contamination induced a widespread lead intoxication of cattle in the northern provinces of The Netherlands (Groningen and Friesland). Over 300 farms were involved, affecting about 15,500 animals (mostly dairy cattle). For a period of one to four weeks these animals took up a thousand kg of lead. This resulted in lead levels in milk, livers, and kidneys above the regulatory safety limits. Due to the chelating therapy, which was rapidly applied by the local veterinarians, only about 30 animals died of an acute lead intoxication. A joint action of the governmental and private authorities prevented exposure of consumers to lead-contaminated animal products. Based on observations, measurements and literature data, predictions were made of the lead levels to be expected in animal products and the time needed for depletion of these levels. The appropriate animals were ear-tagged to ensure their identification, and the decline in time of the lead levels in milk and offals was conscientiously monitored. In the second week of 1990 the lead concentrations were decreased to levels well below the regulatory limits, and hence the tags were removed. The present paper reports our observations and conclusions, especially regarding treatment, predictions and outcome of this incident.

Animal Feed