The cadmium status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area.

This study explores how horses’ cadmium status, a measure of the level of the toxic metal cadmium in the body, varies depending on four factors: breed, sex, age, and living area. Significant findings include the influence of the living area on cadmium exposure and how this is reflected in the cadmium content of the kidneys and liver.

Role of Different Factors

• Breed: The breed of the horse, whether heavy- or warm-blooded, had only a minimal effect on the cadmium content in kidneys and liver. However, on average, warm-blooded horses stored more cadmium than heavy ones.
• Sex: Geldings, or castrated male horses, who were living in areas with a high cadmium exposure had higher cadmium levels in their liver, kidneys, and hair than mares. The difference, however, was not statistically significant.
• Age: Age had a significant role in the cadmium content of kidneys and liver of horses exposed to cadmium. The research does not specify whether the cadmium content increases or decreases with age.

Influence of Living Area on Cadmium Exposure

• The study highlights the strong influence of the living area on cadmium exposure. Kidneys and livers of horses living in areas with high cadmium exposure showed high concentrations of cadmium.
• Specifically, horses from two areas where nonferrous metal smelting occurred, stored around 1000 mg Cd/kg kidney dry matter and 100 to 200 mg Cd/kg liver dry matter. Nonferrous metal smelting is a process that likely released high levels of cadmium into the environment.
• The highest cadmium concentration found in the kidneys of the horses was between 2.3 and 2.6 g/kg dry matter, indicating areas of extreme cadmium exposure.

Limitations in Cadmium Reflection

• The study points out that the cadmium status of animals is best reflected by their kidneys and to a lesser extent by their liver and hair. This could mean that tests on liver and hair alone might under-represent the actual cadmium status of an animal.