Accidental chlorophacinone exposure of lactating ewes: Clinical follow-up and human health dietary implications

Food and Chemical Toxicology
By: , and 
Edited by: Sébastien LefebvreIsabelle FourelEtienne BenoitBarnett A. Rattner, and Virginie Lattard

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Abstract

Anticoagulant rodenticides are widely used for rodent control in agricultural and urban settings. Their intense use can sometimes result in accidental exposure and even poisoning of livestock. Can milk, eggs or meat derived from such accidentally exposed animals be consumed by humans? Data on the pharmacokinetics of chlorophacinone in milk of accidentally exposed ewes were used to estimate the risk associated with its consumption. Three days after accidental ingestion, chlorophacinone was detected in plasma of 18 ewes, with concentrations exceeding 100 ng/mL in 11 animals. Chlorophacinone was detected in milk on day 2 post-exposure and remained quantifiable for at least 7 days in milk of these 11 ewes. Concentrations in milk were much lower than in plasma and decreased quickly (mean half-life of 2 days). This study demonstrated dose-dependent mammary transfer of ingested chlorophacinone. Variation in prothrombin time (PT) on Day 3 suggested that some of the ewes that ingested chlorophacinone may have been adversely affected, but PT did not facilitate estimation of the quantity of chlorophacinone consumed. Using safety factors described in the literature, consumption of dairy products derived from these ewes after a one-week withdrawal period would pose low risk to consumers.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Accidental chlorophacinone exposure of lactating ewes: Clinical follow-up and human health dietary implications
Series title Food and Chemical Toxicology
DOI 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111518
Volume 143
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 111518, 8 p.
Country France
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