Lead: Exposure Risk, Bio Assimilation and Amelioration Strategies in Livestock Animals

Abstract

Lead (Pb) toxicity is a serious issue affecting animals of all kinds, including wildlife, livestock, and companion animals. Lead poisoning has been linked to animals that have been let out to pasture and unintentional lead ingestion from consuming contaminated feed, soil and oil, licking grease off of equipment, chewing on plumbing or batteries, or drinking water contaminated by leaching materials. Compared to monogastric animals, ruminant is better able to withstand the harmful effects of lead and the risk of susceptibility is higher in young animals and human. The primary mechanisms of lead-related toxicity involve the production of oxidative stress by free radicals, which directly unbalances the body's prooxidants and antioxidants system. The main targets of lead toxicity in animals are vital biomolecules like protein, lipid, and nucleic acids (DNA), the liver, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the kidneys, and the reproductive organs. Chelation therapy was considered one of the most effective approaches for alleviating lead toxicity. Many new approaches have been investigated and few of them viz essential metals, vitamins, edible plants, phytochemicals, probiotics and other dietary supplements found to be effective in protecting against Pb toxicity. Plant bioactive compounds possess and offer wider and safe alternatives for alleviation of lead toxicity. Overall, there are many strategies available for mitigating lead toxicity in animals, and each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. Further, research is needed to determine the most effective strategies for different types of animals and lead exposure scenarios. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.