Vanadium poisoning of cattle with basic slag. Concentrations in tissues from poisoned animals and from a reference, slaughterhouse material.

In northern Sweden, 23 heifers out of 98 cattle died of acute vanadium toxicity in a 10-day period. Eight months earlier a pasture had been fertilized with basic slag, containing 3% vanadium. The fertilizer was laid on the surface without being ploughed in. Mainly heifers, and some cows, were fed with basic slag-contaminated fresh hay. The first signs of illness appeared 11 days later, and the first case of death appeared 14 days after the initial clinical signs. The signs were diffuse and difficult to interpret. Inappetence, black diarrhea, lethargy, dehydration and spontaneous abortions occurred. Further, pulmonary lesions, conjunctivitis, neurological disturbances such as depression, leg incoordination, and paralysis of the hind limbs and face were also noted. Although feeding with the contaminated hay was stopped at the outbreak of the toxicity, the 23 animals died or had to be slaughtered, and at necropsy of another heifer 4 weeks later, large amounts of basic slag were still found in the alimentary tract. High vanadium concentrations were found in the liver, kidneys, spleen and urine, 5.9, 5.5, 1.9 and 4.8 mg/kg w.w., respectively. In bone tissue (coccygeal vertebrae), the highest value in an acutely poisoned heifer was 0.680 mg/kd d.w., in the same range as that of an experimentally poisoned sheep. Surviving heifers were more affected than cows; the state of health of these heifers gradually deteriorated and, therefore, a few were slaughtered 3 months later. Because of residual neurological disturbances and decreased milk production, the rest of the herd was slaughtered 5 months after the outbreak, and samples were collected and analyzed. Elevated vanadium concentrations were found in the organs, especially in the spleen, where values of 1.40 and 1.42 mg/kg w.w. were found in 2 heifers at 3 months. The values in heifers (n = 6) were decreased 5 months after the outbreak. The median concentrations were somewhat higher in the liver than in the spleen, and lowest in the kidney (0.244, 0.213 and 0.058 mg/kg w.w., respectively). In the organs of the cows (n = 24), which were less exposed, the corresponding values were 0.012, 0.095 and 0.013 mg/kg w.w., respectively. Vanadium concentrations were also determined in livers of cows and calves at regular slaughter in four geographic regions of Sweden. In one of the regions, where basic slag (with 3% vanadium) had been used for many years, the values were significantly higher than those in the other regions. In a material of 293 specimens, an upper reference limit of 0.012 mg/kg liver w.w., with a 90% confidence interval of 0.011-0.019 mg/kg w.w., was found to be normal for cattle in Sweden. Concentrations above the Highest Swedish Reference Value, 0.019 mg/kg liver can be considered elevated. Vanadium-containing basic slag used as fertilizer caused poisoning in a herd of cattle and its regional use was detectable in livers from cattle at regular slaughter. Such fertilizer must be applied in a proper way. It should be ploughed in and any direct contact of grazing animals with the hazardous fertilizer should be prevented.

Simultaneous multi-element determination of selected elements in dog urine by direct current plasma-atomic emission spectrometry.

Urine samples from dogs were analyzed for 15 important elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, V, and Zn) by using wet-ashing and simultaneous DCP atomic emission spectrometry. As K, Na and P influence the spectral emission of elements to be determined, matrix-matching was applied to ensure accurate metal determinations. The method was checked by analyzing standard reference materials of urine. The values found were generally in agreement (accuracy within 100 +/- 10%) with the certified values. Short- and long-term stabilities of the instrument for the elements determined ranged from 0.4 to 2.2% and from 1.2 to 6.9%, respectively. Simultaneous multi-element determination gives increased information on trace- and minor elements in urine. In the present study DCP atomic emission spectrometry is successfully applied for this purpose.

Urinary excretion of metals during treatment with D-penicillamine and 2-mercaptopropionylglycine in normal and cystinuric dogs.

Urinary excretion of metals during treatment with 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (2-MPG) was studied in 11 normal and 20 cystinuric male dogs. The results were compared with those obtained during D-penicillamine treatment. Twenty-four-h urine and morning samples of urine were taken for determination of 13 metals before and during treatment. After single intravenous and oral D-penicillamine treatment of the normal dogs, significant increases were found in the 24-h urinary excretion of Ca, Cu and Zn. Oral intake of D-penicillamine increased the excretion of Co, Cr, Fe and Mg as well. No effect on renal metal excretion was observed after single intravenous and up to 2 months of daily oral treatment with 2-MPG. In 14 cystinuric dogs no effect was found after single intravenous and oral administrations of 2-MPG. However, after oral treatment of six cystinuric dogs with 2-MPG for 2-4 months, significantly increased excretions of Ca and Mg were found. Fourteen of the cystinuric dogs were also investigated after 2-6 years of continuous 2-MPG treatment, and after this period no significant elevation in the urinary excretion of metals was found. The present study shows that in contrast to D-penicillamine, 2-MPG does not increase the urinary excretion of metals to any appreciable extent. Observed increases in the excretion of Ca and Mg seemed to be a temporary effect only.

Studies on metal content in the brown seaweed, Fucus vesiculosus, from the Archipelago of Stockholm.

Concentrations of eleven metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were determined in the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus collected from the Archipelago of Stockholm. Several factors which influence the metal content in the seaweed have been studied, including errors caused by epiphytes, sea exposure and differences depending on which part of the seaweed is analysed. It is concluded that, if all these factors are considered, Fucus vesiculosus plants are excellent bio-indicators of metal pollution. This is also demonstrated by a significant increase in metal content in transplanted Fucus vesiculosus near the city of Stockholm. The results from this investigation also indicate increasing metal concentrations, especially Cd, in samples from the northern parts of the Archipelago and the reason for this is discussed.