US EPA

8166774 

Journal Article 

Influence of copper status on the accumulation of toxic and essential metals in cattle 

Blanco Penedo, I; Cruz, JM; López-Alonso, M; Miranda, M; Castillo, C; Hernández, J; Benedito, JL 

2005 

1 

Revista de Toxicologia
ISSN: 0212-7113
EISSN: 1697-0748 

22 

3 

200-204 

Spanish 

Interactions between toxic and essential metals, as well as among essential metals themselves, can modulate their accumulation and toxicity. In this study, correlations between copper and toxic (cadmium, lead) and essential elements (molybdenum, iron, selenium, zinc, manganese and cobalt) were evaluated in tissues (liver, kidney) of 195 calves from the region of Deza (NW of Spain), where there is intensive pig farming and the animals usually have high hepatic copper concentrations. Metal concentrations were determined by ICP-OES, and correlations between pairs of elements were determined from Spearman rank correlations. Our results indicated that the high copper exposure in calves in the region of Deza lead to a higher hepatic lead deposition, a lower cadmium accumulation in liver, and a lower cadmium accumulation in the kidney. In relation to the essential elements, the positive association among copper, molybdenum, iron and zinc indicate that the high copper exposure in our animals does not have an antagonistic effect on these essential elements that is directly related to copper status. On the contrary, the association between copper and selenium could indicate that animals exposed to high copper levels are suffering oxidative damage, or alternatively, the potential role of selenium on copper accumulation in the liver. 

Accumulation of copper; Metal interactions; Toxic and essential elements