Serum Concentrations of Strontium, Lead, Nickel, Vanadium and Aluminum in Horses

Providing data on the serum concentration of some important heavy metals in horses of different age and sex is an indicator of short-term exposure and also help to understand influence of these factors in metals intoxication. We reported serum concentrations of some elements in healthy horses and assessed any relationship with age and sex. Fifty-three samples from horses were analyzed by atomic absorption. Mean serum concentrations (μg/ml) ± SD values for strontium were (0.25 ± 0.15), vanadium (0.20 ± 0.02), aluminium (0.71 ± 0.16), nickel (0.10 ± 0.08) and lead (0.09 ± 0.04) μg/ml. No significant correlations were noted between measured elements with age, however, a significant correlation was detected between age with concentration of lead (P<0.05). We concluded that older horses had more ability to absorb this element from their environment, or ability to detoxify lead decreased with increase in age.