Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T03:28:05.740Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A computer model of cadmium metabolism in the sheep with regard to the human food chain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

S.H. Prankel*
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge, CB3 OES, UK
Get access

Extract

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential toxic heavy metal which is added to soil in phosphorous fertilizers and sewage sludge. Cd enters the human food chain via animals fed on crops from these soils, food of vegetable origin and smoking. In chronic exposure situations Cd accumulates in the liver and kidney of animals and man. Intake resulting in a Cd concentration of over 200μg/g wet weight in the kidney cortex results in kidney damage in humans (Friberg et al., 1974). With the prohibition of disposal of sewage sludge at sea in 1998, it is likely that more Cd will be deposited on soils. Current limits for Cd in animal feed are intended to prevent food from animal origin from exceeding legal Cd limits. This work examines the behaviour of Cd in the ovine body and models organ Cd from given intakes to investigate whether current limits in feed are safe and result in animal products fit for human consumption.

Type
Programme
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

EC, 1995. Feeding Stuffs Regulation. EC Undesirable Substance Directive No. 1412, Schedule 5.Google Scholar
EC, 1997. Draft commission regulation setting maximum limits for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.Google Scholar
Friberg, L.M., Piscator, M. and Nordberg, G.F. 1974. Cadmium in the environment, CRC Press, Cleveland.Google Scholar
Lee, J., Rounce, J.R., Mackay, A.D. and Grace, N.D. 1996. Accumulation of cadmium with time in Romney sheep grazing ryegrass-white clover pasture: effect of cadmium from pasture and soil intake. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47:877894.Google Scholar
WHO, 1993. Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants. 4th Joint FOA/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Geneva.Google Scholar