Distribution of minerals in organs of sheep after intoxication with copperfrom industrial emissions

Diagnostics of experimental copper intoxication by industrial emission from a copper smelter on the basis of accumulation and distribution of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mo, Se, As, Cd and Pb in the liver, kidneys, spleen, lung, heart, muscl es, uterus, ovaries and bones were evaluated. The experiment was carried ou t on 10 Improved Vallachian breed non-pregnant ewes aged 5 years transporte d from a farm near the copper smelter. The animals were housed and fed dail y with 1.5 kg of meadow hay, 0.30 kg BAK compound feed and were given water ad libitum throughout the course of the study. The ewes were randomly divi ded into two groups (n = 5), both groups receiving 2.5 g of industrial fall out daily until the 45th day, plus group B extra addition of ammonium molyb date and sodium sulphate to the 24th day; after that toxic substances were stopped. The first animal from group B died of copper poisoning on the 36th day and in group A on the 38th day of the experiment. The highest concentr ation of Cu was found in liver in both groups A and B. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) Fe concentration was confirmed in bones and uterus in group B a nd the Mo concentration increased in the kidneys (P < 0.05) and bones (P < 0.01) in group A. The lowest concentration of Zn was found in the ovaries i n group A, while the lowest amount of Se was observed in bones and heart fr om group B. A higher amount of As was observed in the liver, bones and uter us in ewes from group B than in group A, while high Cd was found in kidneys of ewes from group B compared to group A (0.225 +/- 0.124 mg.kg(-1), 0.135 +/- 0.0387 mg.kg(-1), respectively). However, the Pb concentration in the spleen and lungs was higher in group B than in group A. The distribution of risk elements in the analysed organs of ewes which were chronically intoxi cated with industrial emission from the copper-producing plant proved the c omplexity of interactions between the toxic elements. The administration of ammonium molybdate and sodium sulphate had no unambiguous effect on accumu lation of individual elements in the organs of ewes investigated.