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Ciência Veterinária nos Trópicos, Recife-PE, v. 18 n. 1/2 p. 43-46 - janeiro/agosto, 2015

Toxic levels of zinc in mineral salt mixtures used in beef cattle supplementationWilmar Sachetin MARÇAL1, Marcos Roberto Lopes do NASCIMENTO2, Maísa Fabiana MENCK3.

ABSTRACT

Zinc concentration was measured in 36 salt formulations collected from the states of São Paulo and Paraná, Brazil. Zinc content in each sample was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Thirty-five samples (range 70 ± 24.5 to 11,200 ± 6.27 ppm) had values above 300 ppm, the maximum acceptable value in cattle nutrition. These results show the necessity to monitor the industry, because some mineral mixtures can be dan-gerous to animal health, therefore impair food safety production.

K E Y W O R D S Cattle, Mineral Salt, Zinc.

Niveis tóxicos de zinco em misturas minerais utilizadas na suplementação de bovinos para corte

RESUMO

A concentração de zinco foi mensurada em 36 formulações de sal colhidas no estado de São Paulo e Paraná, Brasil. A concentração de zinco em cada amostra foi determinada por es-pectrometria de emissão atômica com plasma indutivamente acoplado. Trinta e cinco amostras (intervalo de 70 ± 24,5 a 11.200 ± 6,27 ppm) apresentaram valores acima de 300 ppm, o máximo valor aceitável em nutrição de bovinos. Estes resultados mostram a necessidade de monitorar a indústria, porque algumas misturas minerais podem ser perigosas para a saúde animal, portan-to, prejudicando a produção de segurança alimentar.

P A L A V R A S - C H A V E Bovinos, Sal Mineral, Zinco.

¹ Veterinary Clinic Department, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. *wilmar@uel.br

² Químico, CNEN (Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear), Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais

³ Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION

The increased competition in the Bra-zilian market for the commercialization of mineral salt mixtures (MSM) for animal con-sumption is one of the main reasons why the mineral mixture industry (MMI) look to re-duce costs with the aim to win competition and guarantee future business. Today, there are around 5,500 formulations of mineral mixtures being sold throughout the Brazilian market (MARÇAL et al, 2005).

In order to be profitable and maintain it business, the MMI have negligenciated some important aspects related to the concepts of total quality. Some of these aspects are quali-ty raw material sources that comprise mineral salt mixtures. The materials chosen are at the

most accessible price, including from interna-tional origin (MARÇAL et al, 2003).

It is believed that some of these raw ma-terial sources can be contaminated with toxic elements, such as heavy metals and radioactive substances, generating a subject of concern among nutritionists, clinical veterinarians and technicians that work with the area of health and animal production (MARÇAL et al, 2005). By this reason, investigative research project was launched with the intention to evaluate the level of pollutants in mineral for-mulations used as cattle feed supplement in Brazil.

The objective of this study is to investigate the zinc presence in some different mineral supplements produced in Brazil, through lab-oratory analysis to quantify those pollutants,

44 Ciênc. vet. tróp., Recife-PE, v. 18, n. 1 p. 43-46 - janeiro/abril, 2015

Wilmar Sachetin MARÇAL et al.

which can be connected with the macro and micro mineral elements of the formulations prepared for animal feed.

The zinc was the element chosen, because is considered for many specialists as an inorganic chemist of large risk to the animals, mainly in the bovine species (McDOWELL, 1985; BRITO, 1993; NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, 1996; MARÇAL, 1996; MARÇAL et al, 1999; ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN FEED CONTROL OFFICIALS, 2001 and MARÇAL et al, 2005), where the animal contamination can occur by the ingestion of contaminated mineral formulations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The samples were collected directly from the main com-mercial resellers in selected cities, where they had many cattle. Each sample weighed about 200 grams, and noted the man-ufacturing date, expiry period and batch number. At harvest the containers were sealed, with original factory. Samples were paid an identication code to prevent the disclosure of the brand and manufacturer, with respect to research ethics.

The criterion used to determine the number of samples considered the study conducted by MIGUEL (1982). The dif-ference in samples between states occurred because the state of Paraná had more trademark officially controlled by the Feder-al Government agencies.

Samples were conditioned in transparent plastic contain-ers and then send to analysis at the National Commission of Nuclear Energy (CNEN) Laboratory of Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. After drying at 110 0C samples were solubilized by multiacid attack with nitric, hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids, and then zinc was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using a Jarrell-Ash mod-el 975 equipment.

In the analytic detection of zinc in the mineral formula-tions, it was not possible to separate the raw material compo-nents, so in order to proceed with the investigation the authors worked with readily industrialized formulations.

To calculate the values of central tendency (average and medium), percentages for the quantitative variables and vari-ability values (deviate pattern and variation coefficient), the program SAS/BASIC was used, as described in SAS PROCE-DURES GUIDE (1990).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results obtained from the present research, whose inorganic zinc element was quantified in 36 most important mineral formulations produced in the two states, are present-ed in Table 1 and Fig. 1.

The concern about mineral formulations contaminated by metallic elements and/or radioactive substances has been a subject of attention for technicians and farmers. The evaluated results have generating debates among researchers in several countries, with great impulse in the early nineties.

The subject of health control in animal feeding is a point

of great interest and increased attention also in Brazil with strengthened participation by specialists (MARÇAL et al, 1999; MARÇAL et al, 2001).

The microelements sources, most costly in the MSM, can be contaminated with zinc element (CAMPOS NETO & MARÇAL, 1996; MARÇAL et al, 2003), because industries try to find cheaper, alternatives sources of microelements to de-crease it production costs.

In this aspect, the main objective of this study was to in-vestigate the zinc element presence in mineral, mixed supple-ments produced in Brazil. There was no type of research like this realized anywhere in the country until now. Preliminary

State Sample nº. CityValue of Zinc

(ppm)

SÃO PAULO

010203040506070809101112131415

AvaréAvaréAvaré

Mogi MirimRibeirão Preto

AraçatubaPiracicabaBatataisBirigüíBirigüí

São VicentePresidente Prudente

General SalgadoCampinas

Fernandópolis

11.200 ± 6.274.710 ± 1.101.310 ± 0.088,020 ± 3.21 1.250 ± 0.071.890 ± 0.173.700 ± 0.681.620 ± 0.131.030 ± 0.051.270 ± 0.087.700 ± 2.962.140 ± 0.222.660 ± 0.352.120 ± 0.223.060 ± 0.46

PARANÁ

161718192021222324252627282930313233343536

LondrinaLondrinaRolândia

Cornélio ProcópioMaringáCascavel

ParanaguáLondrinaCambé

UmuaramaUmuaramaUmuarama

Jandaia do SulJandaia do Sul

MaringáLondrinaLondrinaLondrinaMaringá

ColomboCatanduvas

470 ± 110.451.770 ± 0.061.770 ± 0.06440 ± 96.8070 ± 24.5

6.820 ± 2.322.270 ± 0.251.510 ± 0.114.450 ± 0.99380 ± 72.204.910 ± 1.202.100 ± 0.2211.000 ± 6.054.600 ± 1.0511.000 ± 6.051.670 ± 0.133.050 ± 0.464.240 ± 0.891.750 ± 0.152.470 ± 0.302.600 ± 0.33

Table 1: Zinc concentrations in individual samples of mineral salt in Brazil

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Toxic levels of zinc in mineral salt mixtures used in beef cattle supplementation

studies shown that contaminated raw material has been used in the MSM with the intention to decrease production costs of the final product (MARÇAL et al, 2003; MARÇAL et al, 2005).

Because of the high number of mineral formulations on the market in Brazil, we proceeded to select samples only from the manufacturing states. One approach is work in some feder-ation states that hold significant cattle population consuming the main MSM marks manufactured countrywide. The states chosen were São Paulo, Paraná, which together hold approxi-mately 14.06% of the bovine herds in Brazil.

In great number of the samples, values were higher that the acceptable maximum limit of 300 ppm attributed by AS-SOCIATION OF AMERICAN FEED CONTROL OFFICIALS (2001).

It is necessary to emphasize that the next phase of our studies will be to evaluate possible sub-clinical effects of zinc toxicity in cattle receiving MSM with the highest zinc concen-trations. The main objective will be to verify changes in the bovine reproductive system, looking for possible impairment of the toxic element in the reproduction of the cow, as referred to by STUART and OEHME (1982); McDOWELL (1985); MA-RACEK et al (1998); MARÇAL et al (1999); MARÇAL et al (2003) and MARÇAL et al (2005). It is important to detach that excessive amounts of zinc in the diet are known to de-press food consumption and may induce copper deficiency (McDONALD et al, 1987; MARÇAL et al (2003).

These results show the necessity to constant monitor the industry and when failures are found the proper recommen-dations should be made. The environment has received a large discharge of this element and in quantities which are not absorbed, it is eliminated through animal’s excrements that contaminate soil, plants and water. Great attention must be

done with raw materials sources because of the threat to ani-mal health. Government agencies must be aware to the issue, because besides the animal health, human health can be in danger due to possible man contamination with foods from animals that were fed with suspicious MSM. An accumula-tive zinc contamination can occur with those individuals that constantly ingest contaminated animals products, therefore, this can impair the potential of animal food production for the domestic market and for the export of Brazilian Animal Food products to potential worldwide markets that demands quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of results observed in researches conducted to date that permits the following conclusions:

1st) Thirty-five samples were found with the zinc concen-tration upper to 300 ppm, the maximum limit attributed by ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN FEED CONTROL OFFI-CIALS (2001), representing 97.22% of the analyzed mineral formulations;

2nd) The largest value founded, 11,200 ppm, refers to a mineral formulation sold in the state of São Paulo, which holds the highest human population by state in Brazil.

REFERENCES

Association of American Feed Control Officials Incorporated: Offi-cial guidelines for contaminant levels permitted in mineral feed ingredients. Indiana: 2001; 292-293.

Figure 1: Average values (N=36) for zinc concentra-tions in mineral salt from two states in Brazil, corre-lated with reference values from ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN FEED CONTROL OFFICIALS (2001).

*ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN FEED CONTROL OFFICIALS (2001).

3302 3579

300 ppm AAFCOI*

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