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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113166
Title: LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Author
item Klevay, Leslie

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2000
Publication Date: 2/1/2000
Citation: Klevay, L.M. 2000. Letter to editor (Agnew). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 31(3):289-290.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Pets and zoo animals continue to be poisoned by pennies because of their high zinc content (greater than 99%) and negligence of owners or thoughtlessness of spectators who throw coins. The pennies dissolve in the stomach and the zinc interfers with copper metabolism; the animals become ill and may die from copper deficiency. Autopsies of dead animals may aid human medicine related to heart disease and osteoporosis as diets low in copper seem to affect these illnesses. Successful treatment of people poisoned by coins may aid the treatment of sick animals.