ABSTRACT
The lead concentration in mineral mixtures used in beef cattle in the state of São Paulo, Brazil was measured. The lead concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Of the 39 analyzed samples (range 3.0 to 4,386 ppm), 28 samples had lead concentration above 10 ppm the acceptable maximum limit proposed by MALETTO (1986)MALETTO, S. Correlação da nutrição mineral e a sanidade, São Paulo, SP, 1986. In: SEMINÁRIO SOBRE NUTRIÇÃO MINERAL, 1986, São Paulo. Anais. São Paulo: SINDAN, 1986, 38p.. These findings show the necessity for careful industrial monitoring, as some mineral mixtures contain sufficient lead to cause toxicity in animals.
KEY WORDS
Lead; beef cattle; mineral salt; xenobiotic