Metal exposure in cows grazing pasture contaminated by iron industry: Insights from magnetic particles used as tracers. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ayrault, Sophie; Catinon, Mickaël; Boudouma, Omar; Bordier, Louise; Agnello, Gregory; Reynaud, Stéphane; Tissut, Michel
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 212(2016)
• Page Start: 565
• Page End: 573
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Cattle -- Smelter -- Technogenic magnetic particles -- SEM-EDX -- ICP-MS -- Abomasum -- Dung -- Herbivorous -- Terrestrial ecosystems -- Potentially toxic elements (PTE); Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.03.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Magnetic particles (MP) emitted by an iron smelter were used to investigate the exposure of cows grazing on a grassland polluted by these MP and by large amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTE). The morphology as well as the chemical composition of the MP separated from cow dung were studied. Large amounts of typical MP were found (1.1 g kg −1 dry weight) in the cow dung sampled from the exposed site, whereas these particles were absent from the reference unpolluted site. The ingested MP were mainly technogenic magnetic particles (TMP) emitted by the smelter. Considering the MP concentration in the grazed grass on the exposed site, it was concluded that cows absorb the MP not only from the grass but also from the soil surface. The results of a mild acidic leaching of the MP suggested that the particles were possibly submitted to a superficial dissolution in the abomasum, pointing at a potential route of transfer of the PTE originating from the TMP and leading into food chains. TMP were only a small part of the anthropogenic contamination having affected the soil and the dung. However, due to their unequivocal signature, TMP are a powerful tracer of the distribution of PTE in the different compartments constituting the food chains and the ecosystems. Furthermore, the measurement of the particle sizes gave evidence that a noticeable proportion of the MP could enter the respiratory tract. Highlights: Cows grazing close to a large steel plant let out heavily contaminated dung. Dung shows a high concentration of elements and typical technogenic particles (TP). Contaminants were ingested by cows from grass and from the soil surface. The ingested anthropogenic mixture is likely to be partly solubilized in the abomasum. 6% of the TP have a size allowing entrance in the lung alveoli and 58% in the bronchi. Abstract : The analysis of metal content and magnetic particles in dung evidenced the exposure of cows grazing near an iron smelter.