Lead (Pb)-poisoning is a serious public health concern and dogs have been useful as a sentinel-animal for Pb exposure of humans. In the present study, the blood Pb concentrations (BLC), isotope ratios (208 Pb/206 Pb and 207 Pb/206 Pb), and biochemistry of 120 domestically owned dogs living around a Pb mining area, in Kabwe, Zambia were analyzed to determine factors associated with Pb exposure. The overall mean value of Pb in dog blood in the present study was 271.6 μg/L. The BLC in the dogs from sites near the mine were significantly higher than those in the dogs from a site 4 km from the mine (352.9 ± 205.1 μg/L versus 28.0 ± 13.9 μg/L). BLC significantly decreased with both increasing age of the dogs and distance from the mine. The Pb isotope ratios in the dog that resided near the mine showed values similar to those reported at the galena mine in Kabwe, which is considered to be the source of Pb exposure. In contrast to the high metal exposure that was determined in these dogs, the mean values of most analyzed parameters in the blood biochemical analysis were surprisingly within or close to the standard reference values. Moreover, none of the dogs showed overt signs of Pb-poisoning or other clinical symptoms. The results of analysis of Pb exposure of the dogs obtained in the present study, which are similar to the previously reported results in human in this location, suggest that dogs could be useful as a sentinel animal for Pb exposure of humans in Kabwe.

中文翻译：

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与铅矿区（赞比亚Kabwe）周围的狗的铅（Pb）暴露相关的因素。

铅（Pb）中毒是严重的公共卫生问题，而狗已被用作人类铅暴露的前哨动物。在本研究中，分析了生活在赞比亚Kabwe附近的120只家养狗的血Pb浓度（BLC），同位素比（208 Pb / 206 Pb和207 Pb / 206 Pb）以及生物化学，确定与铅暴露相关的因素。本研究中狗血中Pb的总平均值为271.6μg/ L。矿山附近狗的BLC显着高于矿山4公里处的狗的BLC（352.9±205.1μg/ L对28.0±13.9μg/ L）。随着狗的年龄增加和距矿山的距离增加，BLC显着下降。住在矿山附近的狗中的Pb同位素比值与在Kabwe的方铅矿中报道的值相似，后者被认为是Pb暴露的来源。与这些狗中确定的高金属暴露量相比，血液生化分析中大多数分析参数的平均值出人意料地在标准参考值之内或接近标准参考值。此外，没有狗显示出明显的铅中毒迹象或其他临床症状。在本研究中获得的狗的Pb暴露分析结果与先前在该位置的人类报告的结果相似，表明狗可以用作Kabwe中人类Pb暴露的定点动物。与这些狗中确定的高金属暴露量相比，血液生化分析中大多数分析参数的平均值出乎意料地在标准参考值之内或接近标准参考值。此外，没有狗显示出明显的铅中毒迹象或其他临床症状。在本研究中获得的狗的Pb暴露分析结果与先前在该位置对人类的报道结果相似，表明该狗可以用作Kabwe中人类Pb暴露的定点动物。与这些狗中确定的高金属暴露量相比，血液生化分析中大多数分析参数的平均值出乎意料地在标准参考值之内或接近标准参考值。此外，没有狗显示出明显的铅中毒迹象或其他临床症状。在本研究中获得的狗的Pb暴露分析结果与先前在该位置对人类的报道结果相似，表明该狗可以用作Kabwe中人类Pb暴露的定点动物。