Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock
Heavy metals, common environmental pollutants with widespread distribution hazards and several health problems linked to them are distinguished from other toxic compounds by their bioaccumulation in living organisms. They pollute the food chain and threaten the health of animals. Biologically, heavy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1375137/full |
| _version_ | 1797257611687493632 |
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| author | Ali Afzal Ali Afzal Naima Mahreen |
| author_facet | Ali Afzal Ali Afzal Naima Mahreen |
| author_sort | Ali Afzal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Heavy metals, common environmental pollutants with widespread distribution hazards and several health problems linked to them are distinguished from other toxic compounds by their bioaccumulation in living organisms. They pollute the food chain and threaten the health of animals. Biologically, heavy metals exhibit both beneficial and harmful effects. Certain essential heavy metals such as Co, Mn, Se, Zn, and Mg play crucial roles in vital physiological processes in trace amounts, while others like As, Pb, Hg, Cd, and Cu are widely recognized for their toxic properties. Regardless of their physiological functions, an excess intake of all heavy metals beyond the tolerance limit can lead to toxicity. Animals face exposure to heavy metals through contaminated feed and water, primarily as a result of anthropogenic environmental pollution. After ingestion heavy metals persist in the body for an extended duration and the nature of exposure dictates whether they induce acute or chronic, clinical or subclinical, or subtle toxicities. The toxic effects of metals lead to disruption of cellular homeostasis through the generation of free radicals that develop oxidative stress. In cases of acute heavy metal poisoning, characteristic clinical symptoms may arise, potentially culminating in the death of animals with corresponding necropsy findings. Chronic toxicities manifest as a decline in overall body condition scoring and a decrease in the production potential of animals. Elevated heavy metal levels in consumable animal products raise public health concerns. Timely diagnosis, targeted antidotes, and management strategies can significantly mitigate heavy metal impact on livestock health, productivity, and reproductive performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:40:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5649796f6b73454fb18a7c3cab8720cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:40:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5649796f6b73454fb18a7c3cab8720cf2024-03-19T04:42:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-03-011510.3389/fphar.2024.13751371375137Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestockAli Afzal0Ali Afzal1Naima Mahreen2Animal Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology College (NIAB-C), Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, PakistanSchool of Zoology, Minhaj University Lahore, Lahore, PakistanNational Institute for Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering College (NIBGE-C), Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, PakistanHeavy metals, common environmental pollutants with widespread distribution hazards and several health problems linked to them are distinguished from other toxic compounds by their bioaccumulation in living organisms. They pollute the food chain and threaten the health of animals. Biologically, heavy metals exhibit both beneficial and harmful effects. Certain essential heavy metals such as Co, Mn, Se, Zn, and Mg play crucial roles in vital physiological processes in trace amounts, while others like As, Pb, Hg, Cd, and Cu are widely recognized for their toxic properties. Regardless of their physiological functions, an excess intake of all heavy metals beyond the tolerance limit can lead to toxicity. Animals face exposure to heavy metals through contaminated feed and water, primarily as a result of anthropogenic environmental pollution. After ingestion heavy metals persist in the body for an extended duration and the nature of exposure dictates whether they induce acute or chronic, clinical or subclinical, or subtle toxicities. The toxic effects of metals lead to disruption of cellular homeostasis through the generation of free radicals that develop oxidative stress. In cases of acute heavy metal poisoning, characteristic clinical symptoms may arise, potentially culminating in the death of animals with corresponding necropsy findings. Chronic toxicities manifest as a decline in overall body condition scoring and a decrease in the production potential of animals. Elevated heavy metal levels in consumable animal products raise public health concerns. Timely diagnosis, targeted antidotes, and management strategies can significantly mitigate heavy metal impact on livestock health, productivity, and reproductive performance.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1375137/fullheavy metalstoxicityhealthproduction performancelivestock |
| spellingShingle | Ali Afzal Ali Afzal Naima Mahreen Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock Frontiers in Pharmacology heavy metals toxicity health production performance livestock |
| title | Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock |
| title_full | Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock |
| title_fullStr | Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock |
| title_short | Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock |
| title_sort | emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health reproductive and productive performance of livestock |
| topic | heavy metals toxicity health production performance livestock |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1375137/full |
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