[Toxicity of cadmium in cattle]

After having investigated the metabolism of cadmium in plants and animals, the Animal Health Service of North Brabant in 1982 instigated research into the level of cadmium in the livers and kidneys of beef cattle kept in the vicinity of a zinc processing factory. Cadmium levels in these cattle were more than twice as high as those of cattle kept in control areas. Clinical abnormalities as a result of the increased cadmium levels were not observed, although haemoglobin and iron levels, iron-binding capacity and iron saturation were lower in these animals than in control animals. Cadmium therefore appears to have an adverse effect on iron absorption. Administration of high doses of cadmium for a limited period to 14 heifers did not cause discernable clinical abnormalities. These animals retained cadmium to a much smaller extent than anticipated on the basis of data for monogastric (mainly rats) animals.