Water hardness in relation to cadium accumulation and microscopic signs of cardiovascular disease in horses.

This research study investigates the relationship between water hardness, cadmium accumulation in horse kidneys, and early signs of heart disease in horses. It suggests that horses drinking softer water may accumulate more cadmium, a harmful heavy metal, and have more microscopic signs of heart disease compared to those drinking harder water.

Study Overview

• The research explores the link between water hardness – measured by the levels of calcium and magnesium – and the accumulation of cadmium in the kidney cortex of horses.
• The study uses a sample of 50 Swedish horses slaughtered for meat production.
• It also looked at the correlation between water hardness and the early microscopic signs of two cardiovascular diseases in horses: arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and focal myocardial fibrosis (abnormal thickening of the heart valve).

Cadmium Accumulation and Water Hardness

• Cadmium is a toxic metal found in the environment that can cause health problems in both humans and animals. It can build up in the body, leading to toxicity.
• Researchers found a significant negative correlation between water hardness and cadmium concentrations in the kidney cortex. This implies that soft water may increase cadmium absorption in horses.
• As a result, horses living in soft water areas have a higher tendency to accumulate cadmium from their surrounding environment than those in hard water areas.

Water Hardness and Cardiovascular Disease

• The study found that the microscopic changes associated with arteriosclerosis and focal myocardial fibrosis were about two times more common in horses that drank soft water than those that drank hard water.
• However, the differences in these findings were not statistically significant, meaning they could have occurred due to chance and not necessarily due to the hardness or softness of the water.

Conclusion

• The research concludes by asserting that horses are a good model for investigating the potential relationship between water hardness and health outcomes.
• This brings attention to the possible implications of water hardness on health and emphasizes the need for further research in this area, not only in horses but also in humans and other animals.