TRANSLOCATION OF LEAD AND CADMIUM FROM FEED TO EDIBLE TISSUES OF SWINE1

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Abstract
In separate experiments, growing and/or finishing swine were fed a control diet and diets supplemented with various low levels of lead and cadmium, for periods up to 24 weeks. The levels of lead in different treatment groups were 2 (control), 6 and 21 parts per million (ppm), whereas those for cadmium were 0.2 (control), 2.4 and 10.1 ppm, respectively. Lead did not accumulate in skeletal muscles, but a dose‐related increase was observed in bone, liver and kidney. In the case of cadmium, no increase was seen in skeletal muscles, bone or brain; the accumulation occurred primarily in kidney and liver. After cessation of lead supplementation the concentration of this metal declined in liver and kidney tissues. On the other hand, cadmium levels did not show any appreciable decline in kidney or liver during 12 weeks after an initial 12 weeks treatment. Lead and cadmium did not accumulate in edible muscles of swine, but the high concentrations of these metals that were recorded in liver and kidney would render these organs unfit for food purposes.