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Monitoring impacts of air pollution: PIXE analysis and histopathological modalities in evaluating relative risks of elemental contamination

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Abstract

Environmental toxicants invariably affect all biological organisms resulting to sufferings ranging from subclinical to debilitating clinical conditions. This novel research aimed to determine the toxic burdens of increased environmental elements in some vital organs/tissues of the wild animals (starling, owl, crow and pigeon), exposed to air polluted environment were assessed using particle induced X-ray emission and histopathological approaches. The presence of significantly elevated amounts of elemental toxicants namely: Aluminum (Al), Chlorine (Cl), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Silicon (Si) and Vanadium (V) from the skin, muscle, lungs, liver and kidney of sampled animals were in concurrence with the observed histopathological changes. The skin of sampled starling, owl, pigeon and crow spotlighted highly significant increase (P < 0.001) in Al, Cl, Mg and Si. Muscle samples with myodegenerative lesions and mineral depositions highlighted substantial augmentation (P < 0.001) in the amount of Al, Fe, Mn, Si and V. The lungs of starling, owl, and pigeon were severely intoxicated (P < 0.001) with increased amount of Al, Fe, K, Mn and Si producing pulmonary lesions of congestion, edema, pneumonitis and mineral debris depositions. Liver samples revealed that the sampled animals were laden with Cl, Fe, Mg, Mn and V with histopathological profound degenerative changes and hepatic necrosis. Kidney sections presented severe tubular degenerative and necrotic changes that may be attributed to increased amounts of Cl and Fe. These current findings implied that the environmental/elemental toxicants and the accompanying lesions that were discerned in the organs/tissues of sampled birds may as well be afflicting people living within the polluted area. Further assessment to more conclusively demonstrate correlations of current findings to those of the populace within the area is encouraged.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Grant from Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Stroke Research Group, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK

    Sohail Ejaz

  2. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400, Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines

    Gerry Amor Camer

  3. Angiogenesis and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Khaleeq Anwar & Muhammad Ashraf

Authors
  1. Sohail Ejaz
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  2. Gerry Amor Camer
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  3. Khaleeq Anwar
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  4. Muhammad Ashraf
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sohail Ejaz.

Additional information

Sohail Ejaz, Gerry Amor Camer, Khaleeq Anwar, and Muhammad Ashraf have contributed equally to this study.

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Ejaz, S., Camer, G.A., Anwar, K. et al. Monitoring impacts of air pollution: PIXE analysis and histopathological modalities in evaluating relative risks of elemental contamination. Ecotoxicology 23, 357–369 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1193-y

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