Residues of heavy metals and their effect on the liver and polluted pastures in assiut governorate

Abstract EN

The present work aimed to evaluate lead and cadmium concentrations in? The liver and kidney of sheep reared on sewage polluted pastures.

The degree of liver and kidney damages were evaluated biochemically and histopathologically.

Twenty eight ewes (4-5 years) were selected before slaughtering from Assist abattoir and classified into 2 groups.

The first group (12 ewes, exposed) originated in a sewage polluted area (Arab El-Madabegh area).

The second group (16 ewes, control) was selected from animals reared in a rural area in the southern east of Assist, where irrigation was carried out by the River Nile water.

Blood and tissues (liver and kidney) were sampled.

Liver and kidney of exposed ewes accumulated higher concentrations of Pb (more than 4 fold, at PO.001) and Cd (30 fold and 39 fold, PO.001, respectively) than controls.

Concentrations of Cu, Zn and Fe in liver and kidney of exposed and control ewes were within the permissible limits.

Heavy metal leaded to structural changes in the liver and kidneys of 9 / 12 exposed ewes.

These changes were represented by necrosis in hepatocytes accompanied with hemorrhages and accumulation of mononuclear inflammatory cells.

The glomeruli appeared hyper cellular surrounded with fibroblastic proliferation, accompanied by atrophy of tubular epithelia and necrobiotic changes in the capillary tuft.

The serum of exposed group showed higher AST and ALT activities (P<0.05), higher concentrations of total Rubin (PO.05), urea (P< 0.05) and cretonne (PO.01) than ol values.

The accumulation of Pb in the liver was positively JL, correlated with serum ALT activity.

The Pb concentration in Sidney was Positivity (P<0.05) correlated with serum urea titrations.

On the other hand concentrations of Cd in the liver were §very correlated with AST and ALT activities (PO.05) and the titrations of total bilirubin (PO.01) in serum.

A strong correlation ftiOl) was noticed between the concentrations on serum urea and Jiiine and the concentrations of Cd in the kidney.

In conclusion, alls reared on sewage polluted pasture accumulate higher Pb and Cd jje liver and kidney than the recommended levels for health of these jials and for human consumption.

This accumulation of heavy metal felted in structural and functional hepatic and renal disorders.

Also, liver and kidney function tests were strongly correlated with Cd and jjatively to less extent with Pb concentrations in these tissues.