0141652 



Background concentrations for lead in cattle kidney tissue 

 range from <0.05 ppm to 2.29 ppm (Flanjak and Lee 1979). The 

 highest nontoxic value reported for this parameter was 4.04 ppm 

 found in the kidneys of dairy cattle fed lead acetate (Sharma et 

 al. 1982). The toxic lead hazard level of 6 ppm for cattle kidney 

 tissue is based on the study of Logner et al. (1984). These 

 authors fed elevated lead (as lead sulfate) to calves for 7 weeks 

 and noted acute toxicity symptoms and one fatality in the 4 calves 

 receiving a diet with 1501 ppm lead. The surviving calves 

 exhibited a mean kidney lead concentration of 6.38 ppm. This 

 level agrees with other data in the reviewed literature in that 

 all levels >6 ppm were associated with toxicity and all levels <6 

 ppm were nontoxic. A 10 ppm lead concentration in cattle kidney 

 tissue was reported as toxic by Puis (1981) and Buck (1976). 



Background lead concentrations in cattle liver tissue range 

 from <0.05 to 1.44 ppm (Flanjak and Lee 1979, Prior 1976). The 

 toxic lead hazard level for liver tissue of 5-12 ppm is based on 

 the 5 to 300 ppm criteria reported by Puis (1981). All cattle 

 liver lead levels in excess of 5 ppm reported in the reviewed 

 literature were associated with toxicosis. All values less than 

 the 5 ppm, with the exception of a 3.5 ppm value reported by 

 Logner et al. (1984), were nontoxic. Buck et al . (1976) stated 

 that liver levels >10 ppm lead we.re diagnostical ly significant for 

 ruminants . 



The typical background range for lead in cattle hair has been 

 reported as 0.5 to 5.0 ppm (Puis 1981) and apparently may average 

 close to 5 ppm near highly developed areas such as Los Angeles 

 (USDA 1975). The toxic hazard level of 10 ppm lead in cattle hair 

 is the value given by Puis (1981). No other data were found in 

 the reviewed literature to substantiate this hazard level. 



Background values for lead in cattle milk range from 0.02 to 

 0.420 ppm (Keheo et al. 1940, Murthy 1974). The toxic hazard 

 level for cattle milk (0.15 ppm) is based on the work of White et 

 al. (1943) who noted mild lead poisoning symptoms associated with 

 this level. The 0.15 ppm level is in agreement with the toxic 



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