Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Copper, and Zinc Contents in the Hair of Cattle Living in the Area Contaminated by a Copper Smelter

The goal of the present studies was to determine the exogenous and endogenous reserves of lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper, and zinc. Examinations were carried out in 2006 (N=19), 2007 (N=20), and 2008 (N=20). Hair samples were collected from the back part of the Limousine cattle pastured in the vicinity of the Glogow copper smelter. The cows, aged 4 to 5 years, were reared on green pastures. In 2007 mean hair concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in dirty hair were statistically significantly higher than those in 2006 and 2008. On the other hand, mean concentrations of arsenic were lower than those in 2006 and 2008. Moreover, in 2007, the concentrations of arsenic and cadmium in washed hair were lower than those in 2006 and 2008. It was found that the majority of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and copper was from exogenous reserves (54% to 72%) whereas zinc was accumulated in the internal structure of hair (54% to 92%).