Equity in agriculture-nutrition-health research: a scoping review.

Links among agriculture, nutrition, and health (ANH) are established, but the role of inequity is less understood. In this scoping review, we aimed to understand the range of ways that ANH research addresses inequity issues in low- and middle-income countries. We used PRISMA guidelines to structure our study. From an initial >26 000 studies, 243 published reports met inclusion criteria and were mapped. The number of reports addressing inequity in ANH research has increased over time from < 10 articles in 2008 to > 40 in 2018. Within equity, a majority of articles (n = 327) focused on describing how nutrition and health outcomes differ for different groups. Many (n = 134) looked at the material circumstances that shape people's life chances. Fewer (n = 51) looked at the most basic structural determinants of (in)equity. The same aspects of equity remain the least studied in ANH research, including the intersections of equity issues shaping life chances, and inequity's structural determinants. We suggest ways forward for this community, drawing on conceptual frameworks and theory of inequity from different disciplines.

Managing lead exposure and toxicity in cow-calf herds to minimize the potential for food residues.

Lead poisoning is commonly diagnosed in cattle. In this study, 3 groups of cattle from different herds accidentally exposed to discarded lead batteries on pasture were intensively studied to determine the extent and severity of exposure. The losses from acute death due to lead toxicity were substantial in all the 3 study groups at 12%, 17%, and 4%. Blood samples were taken from all cattle around the time of the first diagnosis and then later in 2 of the 3 herds to monitor the change in lead concentrations over time. Asymptomatic lead toxicosis was observed in these herds. In these 3 groups, between 4% and 12% of asymptomatic cattle had blood lead concentrations consistent with acute lead poisoning (> 0.35 ppm), and between 7% and 40% of these asymptomatic animals were in the high-normal range (0.1-0.35 ppm). Because of the consistently high number of asymptomatic cattle with elevated lead levels, all cattle potentially exposed to a lead source should be tested before sale or slaughter to minimize the entry of lead into the food chain. The blood lead concentrations, which were monitored for months after the initial diagnosis, decreased slowly after the cattle were removed from the lead source. The prolonged retention of lead may be due to continued release and absorption of lead from metal particles in the reticulum or rumen. The mean reduction in the lead level was 0.046 ppm (95% CI, 0.017-0.075 ppm) every 30 days for these 2 herds. Using a single-component exponential model, the half-life of lead in the animals retested from Herds 1 and 2 was highly variable. The median half-life was 63 days (interquartile range, 34-107 days). One out of 8 pregnant heifers with high blood levels had a stillborn calf. There were no abortions or calf mortalities in this group. Blood samples were'collected from the calves around the time of birth. The concentrations of lead in the blood of the calves exposed in utero were low (0.010-0.095 ppm).