Lead poisoning in a calf from the mining area of Sierra Madrona and Alcudia Valley / Intoxicación por plomo en un ternero de la zona minera de Sierra Madrona y el Valle de Alcudia

We notify the first reported case of lead (Pb) poisoning in a calf from the old mining district of Sierra Madrona and Alcudia Valley (Spain), which appeared in a farm with visible signs of historic mining activity in the surrounding land. The blood Pb level found in this calf was 311 μg/dL, and was associated to several symptoms of clinical Pb poisoning, including severe paralysis, loss of sensitivity from hip to the hind legs and incoordination. Soils, plants and water points inside the farm showed Pb levels above the threshold values to be classified as highly polluted soils, toxic pastures for livestock and non-potable water for humans. This report indicates that Pb pollution denotes a health risk for cattle reared in the mining area of Sierra Madrona and Alcudia Valley (AU)

Se notifica el primer caso registrado de intoxicación por plomo (Pb) en un ternero del antiguo distrito minero de Sierra Madrona y el Valle de Alcudia (España), que apareció en una finca ganadera con restos visibles de antiguas activides mineras en los terrenos circundantes. El nivel de Pb en sangre detectado en el animal fue de 311 μg/dL, y estuvo asociado a diversos síntomas de intoxicación clínica por Pb, que incluyen parálisis severa, pérdida de sensibilidad en los cuartos traseros e incoordinación. Los suelos, las plantas y los puntos de agua presentes en la finca mostraron niveles de Pb por encima de los valores umbral, siendo considerados como suelos altamente contaminados, pastos tóxicos para el ganado y agua no potable para el consumo humano. Estos datos indican que la contaminación por Pb implica un riesgo para la salud del ganado criado en la zona minera de Sierra Madrona y el Valle de Alcudia (AU)

Neurobehavioural and neurotoxic effects of L-ascorbic acid and L-tryptophan in lead exposed rats.

BACKGROUND: Lead is an environmental toxicant, occupational and environmental exposures remain a serious problem in developing and industrializing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study is designed to investigate the effects of L-ascorbic acid and L-tryptophan on the neurotoxicity and neurobehavioural alterations in lead exposed male Sprague Dawley rats. METHODS: Experimental animals were exposed to oral doses of lead (Pb), L-ascorbic acid, and L-tryptophan at 75 mg/kg body weight, 40 mg/kg body weight, and 20 mg/kg body weight respectively, while control animals received 0.90% saline solution. Oral administration spanned for four weeks after which changes in neuro-behaviour, organ weight, blood deposition of Pb, brain serotonin, tryptophan and neuronal redox status were determined. Changes in organ weight, blood lead levels, neuro-behavioural characteristics, brain serotonin and tryptophan contents, and brain redox status were determined. RESULTS: The results indicated that Pb exposure increased blood lead, organ-weight index, and behavioural signs of anxiety and aggression. The sub-chronic exposure to Pb also decreased brain serotonin, while causing oxidative stress by decreasing reduced glutathione levels, antioxidant enzyme activity and increasing lipid peroxidation and brain protein contents. L-ascorbic acid attenuated both Pb induced neuronal oxidative stress, and abnormalities in behaviour. But L-tryptophan ameliorated Pb altered neurobehaviour with no significant effect on Pb induced oxidative stress in the brain. Co-administration of L-ascorbic acid and L-tryptophan on Pb exposed rats showed a reversal in all indices assessed towards the physiological state of control. CONCLUSION: This suggests that L-ascorbic and L-tryptophan can be used to compliment chelating therapy in lead neurotoxicity.