scope:

Introduction

The maximum ambient levels (maximum immission levels MI) presented in the following for zinc are intended to protect livestock. Maximum immission levels are derived from long-term experiments with exposure to zinc to determine the doseresponse relationships in livestock. They can be established only for those farm animals for which experiments were conducted. For goats the respective maximum permissible uptake values (maximum immission dose MID) for sheep apply.

According to current knowledge, ambient levels presented in the following do not lead to health impairment and lower productivity among livestock, not even after long-term uptake. Moreover, no harmful contamination of food produced from these animals is to be expected so that impairment of human health after consumption of such food is not to be feared.

The MI-values are valid for the mentioned animal species provided the usual conditions of care and feeding were applied. An oversupply of nickel may decrease the sensitivity of a species against a high exposure to zinc. Combined effects with other heavy metals are not considered.