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Lead Levels in Blood from Cattle Residing near a Lead Smelter

Reclamation Research Unit, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59717-0290.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Concentrations of Pb in whole blood from 222 cattle (Bos tarus L.) representing nine herds were determined. Lead blood levels were significantly (P 0.05) elevated for herds near a primary lead smelter compared to a background herd. Herd Pb blood levels were significantly correlated to distance from the smelter (r = –0.86), and to soil Pb concentrations (r = 0.96). They were also moderately correlated (r = 0.61) to vegetation Pb levels. Soil may be more important than forage as a source of Pb for these cattle. Immature cattle, less than 1 yr old, had higher (P 0.05) Pb blood levels than mature cattle. A total of 15 animals (all immature) exhibited Pb blood values above 35 µg dL^–1. Twenty-one animals had elevated (22–35 µg dL^–1) Pb blood levels. Most cattle (80%) tested near the smelter and all cattle from the background herd had Pb blood levels in the normal diagnostic range (1–21 µg dL^–1).

Funding for this research was provided by the Montana Office of the USEPA, Helena, MT.

Received for publication June 17, 1991.