Final answer:
Herbivores can be poisoned by lead due to ingestion of contaminated plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some animals, such as herbivores may be poisoned by lead when they ingest contaminated plants. This process is a concern for farm animals that might graze on land where soil and plants have absorbed or adsorbed lead from various sources, such as deposition from lead air pollution, mining, or direct discharge of waste streams into the environment. It is critical to understand that animals can suffer from poisoning not only by ingesting contaminated food, but also through other forms of exposure like contaminated water while swimming, bathing, or drinking. The ingestion of contaminated food or water is a common route through which lead toxicity can occur.
Lead exposure can have significant negative health effects, as this heavy metal can accumulate in animal tissues over time, eventually causing sickness or even death. This is a point of concern not just for farm animals, but for wildlife as well, as lead persists in the environment and can disrupt natural ecosystems. It's important to control lead and other heavy metal levels in the environment to protect the health of both animals and humans.