Monitoring of heavy metals and hematobiochemical change in milk and blood of buffaloes fed on sewage irrigated green darama

Abstract EN

The water pollution considered as a very critical environmental problem concern all over the world.

The present study was planned to investigate the levels of five different heavy metals (Al, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) and their hemato-biochemical effects in blood of dairy buffaloes fed on sewage irrigated plant (Darawa) as well as its residues in milk.

Blood and milk were sampled from two groups of dairy buffaloes (n = 10 each) the first fed on Darawa where irrigation was carried out by the River Nile water (control) and the second fed on sewage irrigated Darawa in Tal-Mohamed village in Sharkia Province (exposed).

Darawa allowed for these animals was also sampled.

The first blood samples for hematological analysis revealed significant reduction of total erythrocytic count, hemoglobin and packed cell volume, while total leucocytic count showed insignificant increase.

Serum biochemical analysis (the second blood samples) revealed significant increase of serum AST, ALT, AP, BUN, Al, Pb and Cd.

On the other hand, glucose, total protein, albumin, Cu, and Zn showed significant reduction.

Levels of estimated heavy metals in milk samples collected from exposed buffaloes showed significant increase when compared with those from control ones.

Furthermore, the results showed that polluted plant (Darawa2) contained higher concentrations of heavy metals than the normal plant (Darawa 1).

It was concluded that, animals fed on sewage polluted plants accumulate higher metals in their blood and milk than those fed on non-polluted plants and that may pose potential environmental and health risks in the long-term.