How knowledge of the gastrointestinal absorption of elements could be used to predict transfer to milk.

The quality and quantity of data used to derive transfer parameter values for milk are variable and there are many data gaps for elements/radionuclides which may need to be considered for risk assessment of the agricultural foodchain. There has been a recent focus on critically evaluating current methods to fill data gaps and on identifying extrapolation methods to derive suitable values for the elements, and particularly radioisotopes, with no or sparse data. The relationship between fractional absorption of elements in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract and transfer to milk has been explored to determine whether knowledge of the former can be used to predict the latter. A relationship has been derived between fractional absorption of elements and two empirical ratios commonly used to quantify transfer to milk; transfer coefficients (element concentration in milk divided by element daily intake) and concentrations ratios (concentration in milk divided by concentration in feed). We propose that fractional absorption may be used to predict the order of magnitude of the transfer to milk of elements/radionuclides for which no relevant data have yet been identified or collated.

For many years, estimates of the transfer of radionuclides to animal products has been achieved by the use of transfer coefficients defined as the activity concentration in milk (Fm) or meat (Ff) (Bq kg−1 fresh weight (fw) divided by the daily intake of the radionuclide (Bq d−1)) assumed to be at steady state. More recently, the use of concentration ratios (CR) has been suggested, which removes the need to quantify the total intake of the animal as it uses the concentration in the feed (Bq kg−1 dry weight (dw)) as the denominator rather than the intake12. Both these authors suggested that there is a potential advantage of the use of CR values in that they are less variable than transfer coefficients and easier to obtain.

The major sources listing Fm and CR values for different elements with radioisotopes have changed over the decades. In the 1960–80s, reviews by Ng3456789 were often used. In the 1990s the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published compilations of transfer parameter values for the human foodchain which included Fm and Ff values for a range of animal products in TRS 36410 and NCRP11 also published values used in a screening model. In 2009, a revised compilation of IAEA values, accompanied by values for CR, was provided in TRS 47212 (accompanied by Tecdoc 161613 and papers114 which gave more detailed information of each set of values given in the TRS).

TRS 472 is based largely on original data sources for radioisotopes and stable elements, rather than reviews which were an important data source for the earlier TRS 364. Although many data are available for the three elements with important dose-forming radionuclides: Cs, Sr and I, there are many data gaps and no or little data yet identified from many other elements including natural radioisotopes.

Many compilations of data on the transfer of radionuclides to milk fill in data gaps by referring to the previous reviews or literature compilations mentioned above. However, there are significant disadvantages in the use of such approaches including a lack of rigour, provenance, quality control or peer review15.

In the absence of data a number of extrapolation methods are frequently used for both the human foodchain and for quantifying transfer to wildlife. These include the use of analogue elements, use of analogue animal products (e.g. sheep milk or goat milk for cow milk), Bayesian statistics and biokinetic modelling. For wildlife assessments, new approaches for extrapolation have been explored including using generic (trans-species) CR, allometry and REML (Residual Maximum Likelihood) modelling which have potential to improve prediction of radionuclide transfer by making better use of existing parameter values17.

Less attention has been given to extrapolation for the human foodchain, although some of the approaches discussed above17 could be relevant. In this paper we test a possible relationship between fractional absorption and transfer to milk that might allow a new extrapolation technique to be developed for milk. For an element to be present in milk, it first has to pass through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider whether data on the fractional absorption (the fraction present in the gut that passes into the blood), which varies considerably between different elements, may be extrapolated to derive values for transfer parameters for milk. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is a relationship between fractional absorption and the transfer of elements to milk.

Results

The method used to define the data for the ruminant absorption values differed from that of the ICRP18 for the human alimentary tract model where Fa values were based on expert review of literature. However, the Fa values for ruminants (Table 1) are generally within an order of magnitude of those reported by ICRP, with some exceptions (see below).

Table 1

Fractional absorption* for ruminants121316.

Element	Fa	N	Element	Fa	N
Ag	5.6E-2	1	Na	9.0E-1	—
Am	1.4E-4	2	P	6.7E-1	—
Ba	5.5E-2	2	Pb	4.0E-2	9
Ca	3.0E-1	—	Pu	8.5E-5	3
Cd	1.2E-3	1	Ru	5.8E-3	6
Ce	6.1E-4	5	Se	5.2E-1	—
Cl	9.0E-1	—	Sr	1.1E-1	21
Co	4.7E-2	9	U	1.1E-2	2
Cs	8.0E-1	14	Y	1.2E-3	2
Fe	1.0E-1	—	Zn	1.5E-1	—
I	9.8E-1	13	Zr	6.8E-3	1
Mn	7.5E-3	—

*Geometric mean unless n < 3 when arithmetic mean is given.

There are far more transfer parameter values for different elements available for cow milk than for goat milk. The elements with the most transfer parameter values for cow milk, with n ≥ 100, are Cs, Sr and I. For goat milk the data are less numerous with n = 27, 23 and 21 respectively for Cs, Sr and I, and ten elements with n ≤ 2 data values (Table 2).

Table 2

Transfer coefficient and CR values (geometric means and standard deviations) for cow and goat milk15 in the MODARIA 2016 dataset for animal products for elements with Fa values. n/a - no data available.

Element	Cow Milk					Goat Milk
	Fm GM	Fm GSD	CR GM	CR GSD	N	Fm GM	Fm GSD	CR GM	CR GSD	N
Am	1.6E-6	12.6	7.7E-6	1.4	2	1.4E-5	6.4	1.9E-5	8.0	2
Ba	1.8E-4	2.7	3.2E-3	3.7	17	3.1E-3	1.8	6.7E-3	2.8	2
Ca	9.9E-3	1.6	1.5E-1	1.7	15	9.3E-2	2.1	1.7E-1	2.6	11
Cd	2.6E-4	16.2	5.1E-3	17.0	13	9.6E-4	4.9	1.9E-3	4.4	4
Ce	1.5E-5	6.7	1.9E-4	8.4	8	4.0E-5	—	6.4E-5	—	1
Cl	1.8E-2	2.8	1.5E-1	2.6	3	n/a	—	n/a	—	—
Co	3.2E-4	9.2	5.8E-3	10.5	16	n/a	—	n/a	—	—
Cs	4.9E-3	2.1	8.6E-2	2.1	278	1.1E-1	2.1	1.8E-1	2.0	27
Fe	3.7E-5	3.8	5.8E-4	4.5	13	4.0E-2	—	6.4E-2	—	1
I	6.1E-3	2.7	1.1E-1	3.2	100	2.1E-1	3.0	3.2E-1	3.1	21
Mn	1.4E-5	4.9	2.7E-4	4.8	16	9.8E-3	14.8	1.6E-2	14.8	2
Na	1.6E-2	1.7	2.3E-1	1.9	9	1.8E-1	2.5	2.9E-1	2.5	3
P	1.3E-2	1.2	2.4E-1	1.4	4	1.2E-1	3.0	9.4E-2	8.2	2
Pb	3.2E-4	2.7	6.9E-3	2.6	19	3.7E-2	—	4.8E-2	—	1
Pu	3.6E-5	9.8	4.3E-4	9.6	3	n/a	—	n/a	—	—
Ru	9.4E-6	8.5	1.0E-4	7.4	6	n/a	—	n/a	—	—
Se	3.8E-3	2.1	6.3E-2	2.3	27	6.8E-2	1.5	1.0E-1	1.5	4
Sr	2.5E-3	1.7	1.8E-2	1.7	116	1.5E-2	2.0	2.6E-2	2.1	21
U	1.3E-3	2.2	2.5E-2	2.2	7	1.4E-3	—	4.8E-4	—	1
Y	n/a	—	n/a	—	—	2.0E-5	—	3.2E-5	—	1
Zn	2.8E-3	2.5	6.1E-2	1.5	18	4.3E-2	1.6	6.5E-2	1.8	7
Zr	3.6E-6	4.3	4.1E-5	3.6	6	5.5E-6	—	1.7E-5	—	1

The relationship between ruminant fractional absorption and transfer parameter GM values for different elements and both milk products are shown in log-log plots in Figs 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each data point corresponds to a different element.

Figure 1

Comparison of the TRS 472 ruminant absorption values with Fm for cow milk using the updated animal dataset.

Figure 2

Comparison of the TRS 472 ruminant absorption values with CR for cow milk using the updated animal dataset.

Figure 3

Comparison of the TRS 472 ruminant absorption values with Fm for goat milk using the updated animal dataset.

Figure 4

Comparison of the TRS 472 ruminant absorption values with CR for goat milk using the updated animal dataset.

Discussion

The chemical form and extent of binding to soil adhered to ingested material will impact on fractional absorption by ruminants and vary between elements16. Nevertheless, there is a good correlation between the fractional absorption values for each element and the transfer parameter values for both milk products. The r values are similar for both Fm and CR in each milk product and are slightly stronger for goat milk than for cow milk. However, for both milk products there are elements that are outliers and are discussed below. In some cases possible reasons for the discrepancy can be suggested whereas for others the paucity of data makes this difficult.

There are a limited number of ruminant fractional absorption values for most elements and fewer than that for the element transfer parameter values for both milk and products. Consideration of the Fa values can take into account those derived by ICRP18 for human assessment bearing in mind that the ICRP values are derived by an expert review process and, as for the ruminant dataset, the quality, quantity and relevance of available data for each element varies. An equivalent, independent, recent, compiled literature source is not available with which we can evaluate the transfer parameter data.

For cow milk, Pu is the most obvious outlier with higher transfer parameter value than that expected from the Fa value. The Fa value was based on three data sources192021. Beresford reported a derived Fa of 1.2E-4 from data reported for lambs fed vegetation contaminated by marine discharges from the Sellafield reprocessing plant20. Lower Fa values of 7.9E-5 and 6.5E-5 were reported for experiments in which 239/240Pu was administered orally in two soils, one artificially contaminated and one contaminated by Sellafield discharges21. These absorption values are in agreement with a range of E-4–E-5 in animals for non-oxide forms and 6E-5 to 6E-4 for organic forms reported by ICRP18. The transfer parameter values are based on three disparate Fm values of 5E-422, 7.5E-623 and 1.3E-524. In TRS 472, a value for Fm of 1E-5 was given based on consideration of available data23, partly because the compiled data for Pu Fm was highly variable and there were a number of problems associated with the data available, including faecal and soil contamination of vegetation and milk samples, and the lack of equilibrium after single administration studies and especially for short duration studies. It is highly unlikely that equilibrium will ever to be achieved in agricultural animals given the long biological half-life, partly due to accumulation in bone and liver23. The Fm value for Am, an analogue for Pu, is 1.6E-6 and 1.4E-5 for cow and goat milk respectively and is not an outlier.

The Cd transfer parameter values for cow milk are higher than that expected from the Fa value. The Fa value for Cd is related to solubility in the digestive tract and high dietary levels of Ca, Cr, Mg or Zn which decrease Cd absorption25. The mammary gland is thought to limit Cd transport as the concentration of Cd in milk is not increased by high dietary concentrations of Cd26. The Fa value for ruminants of 1.2E-3 (Table 1) which is based on data for 109CdCl2 orally administered to a three cows27 is more than an order of magnitude lower than that recommended in ICRP28 of 5.0E-2 for all inorganic compounds of Cd based on Fa values reported in mice, rats, and goats. In the more recent ICRP report no Fa values for Cd were reported29. The thirteen Fm and CR values for Cd varied substantially over several orders of magnitude (e.g. CR - 2.7E-5 to 1.6E-1) and eleven values were derived using stable Cd30313233343536.

The U transfer parameter values for cow milk are higher than that expected from the Fa value. ICRP18, noted that fasting can affect uranium absorption, gives an Fa value of 2.0E-2 based on data for humans, which is the same order of magnitude as that for ruminants of 1.1E-23738 (Table 1). The seven derived transfer parameter values for U37383940 most cows were fed plant incorporated 238U or 234U and had CR values ranging from 2.4E-2 to 6.1E-2. In one study where UO2(NO3)2 was administered the CR was lower at 5E-340.

The Fe transfer parameter values for cow milk are lower than that expected from the Fa value. Fe is an essential element with absorption affected by many factors25 including diet composition, amount and chemical form ingested (as soluble forms are better absorbed better than insoluble), animal age, conditions within the gastro-intestinal tract, requirement and body iron stores, animal health and the stage of lactation. A recommended value for Fa of 1.0E-1 based on data for humans29, which is the same value as that for ruminants12 (Table 1) which is based on stable element data26. Other reported Fa values for 59Fe given as a chloride to ruminants vary considerably from 5E-3 to 9.7E-1 in cows4142. The Fe content of milk also varies with species and stage of lactation25. The transfer parameter values for Fe to milk only varied within one order of magnitude.

There are fewer obvious outliers for goat milk. The goat milk dataset has a considerably lower Fm and CR for Zr than would be expected from the Fa value. There is only a single value for Zr from both absorption and transfer to milk. The single ruminant Fa value of 6.8E-3 (Table 1) is based upon an experiment with 5 cows given ZrCl240, with only brief experimental details in the review of Russian language studies transfer to milk43. The ruminant value is similar to that given by ICRP18 of 1.0E-2. ICRP discuss data for Zr of 3E-4 to 2E-3 in rats44 and 1E-3 and 3.5E-4 to juvenile and adult rats respectively45. Considerably higher absorption has been noted in younger animals due to transient uptake into the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a lower assumed Fa value of 2E-3 for all compounds of Zr46. The milk transfer Fm and CR value is based on an experiment47 in which three goats are given a single oral administration of 95Zr(IV) oxalate in a gelatine capsule. The cow milk transfer value for Zr is also relatively low at 4E-6 based on six values from dairy cows. A further problem with Zr is that analytical methods used for its determination were often inaccurate in earlier studies due to leading to wide range of reported values. Given the currently available data for Zr it is difficult to have much confidence in the currently compiled values for Fa, Fm and CR and, therefore, the data for Zr used our analysis.

The approach used here for milk may also be applicable for meat. This will be explored in a subsequent analysis following the ongoing revision of the TRS 472 dataset.

We cannot expect all elements to accumulate in milk according to the relationship described here due to the metabolic factors such as homeostasis, elemental antagonism/interaction, and variation in the importance of a range of macro elements in metabolism animal age, stage of lactation, pregnancy, and biological half lives in tissues and regulation of some elements by the mammary gland. However, the potential benefit of the application of the relationship described is that if there is information on gut absorption for an element then it will enable an order of magnitude estimation of the transfer parameter values for milk for the many elements for which we have no, or little data at present. Furthermore, the approach would be consistent for different elements rather than the current situation where the method used to fill data gaps for assessments varies considerably and is of variable quality and provenance.

Materials and Method

For TRS 472, the recommended values were derived from data compiled according to procedures agreed in the EMRAS programme of the IAEA. The data used for this comparison were in separate datasets for fractional absorption and transfer to milk.

The fractional absorption dataset16 included values from (i) literature studies, (ii) a then recent review of Russian-language information on ruminant absorption43 and (iii) an agricultural review by the National Research Council26. The latter source was used for the fractional absorption values of Ca, Cl, Fe, Mn, Na, P, Se and Zn. The ruminant fractional absorption values (Fa) used for this study were reported in TRS 47212 and a review paper for ruminants16 (Table 1). For most elements there were fewer than 10 data values in the dataset.

A dataset for the transfer of a wide range of elements to milk was previously used to derive the transfer parameter values in the IAEA handbook TRS 47212 and associated Tecdoc 161613. The revision of the dataset initially focused on updating the goat15 and cow milk datasets. The approaches for revising the milk datasets include a rigorous quality control (QC) of the original dataset and modification of the Russian-language data to be consistent with a review paper on radionuclide transfer to milk48. Further data were added through a limited literature review, including additional stable element values and derivation of additional CR values from Fm data using assumptions of the dry matter intakes of the animals15. Priority was given to updating the transfer values to cow milk for those elements for which we have fractional absorption values (Table 1) to enable a comparison to be made. Key sources of new information are now incorporated into the milk dataset3949505152535455. Information on other adjustments made during the revision process, including the removal of data originally included in the TRS 472 dataset, will be provided in a subsequent paper on transfer parameters for elements to cow milk.

The relationship between the GM values for the Fa and that of Fm or CR was quantified using a Spearman correlation coefficient analysis, with the r values shown in the figures. The Spearman coefficient is non-parametric, based on rank scores, and was considered appropriate because it is not influenced by the log-normal tendency of these parameters and because consistent ranking of the elements is core to the hypothesis of this study.

Data Availability

The data described here have a Digital Object Identifier doi.org/10.5285/7713d170-f6a3-4aa7-83c8-fe91278517ce and are freely available from the CEH Environmental Information Data Centre (http://eidc.ceh.ac.uk/) under the Open Government Licence. These must be referenced fully for every use of the data as: Howard, B.J., Wells, C., Barnett, C.L., Sheppard, S. (2016). Transfer of radionuclides to cow and goat milk. NERC-Environmental Information Data Centre doi.org/10.5285/7713d170-f6a3-4aa7-83c8-fe91278517ce and where appropriate the source references as cited above. Supporting information to aid in the reuse of this data is available from the EIDC.

Additional Information

How to cite this article: Howard, B. J. et al. How knowledge of the gastrointestinal absorption of elements could be used to predict transfer to milk. Sci. Rep. 6, 37041; doi: 10.1038/srep37041 (2016).

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