Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in Blood Metals, Hematology and Hepatic Enzyme Activities in Lactating Cows Reared in the Vicinity of a Lead–Zinc Smelter

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study examines blood metals levels and health parameters in dairy cows reared in areas around a Pb–Zn industrial complex located near the city of Zanjan-Iran. Blood samples (n = 27) were collected from cows reared around the smelter. Blood samples (n = 25) were also collected from cows reared in areas where chances of Pb contamination of soil, water and fodder do not exist, to serve as reference. The mean blood Pb level in cows around the smelter (1.09 ± 0.26 µg/mL) was higher than the cows from the reference area (0.72 ± 0.25 µg/mL). Hematocrit (PCV) levels decreased in cows reared in the near of smelter (24.37 % ± 2.22 %) compared to the reference site (27.54 % ± 2.87 %). Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and mean corpuscular Hb concentration value in cows from the area around the smelter were statistically lower than the cows reared in reference area. Activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase (IU/l) were significantly higher in cows around the smelter as compared to reference animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aslani MR, Heidarpour M, Najarnezhad V, Mostafavi M, Toosizadeh-Khorasani Y (2012) Lead poisoning in cattle associated with batteries recycling: high lead levels in milk of nonsymptomatic exposed cattle. Iran J Vet Sci Tech 4:47–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Binot H, Lomba F, Chauvaux G, Bienfet V (1972) The etiology of conditioned copper deficiency. Influence of Fe, Zn, and Pb supply on copper status of grazing cattle. ZTierphysiol 30:48–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell WR, Peterson KK (1976) The biology of molybdenum. Vol. 1. Molybdenum in the Environment. Marcel Dekker, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Chehregani A, Noori M, Yazdi HL (2009) Phytoremediation of heavy-metal-polluted soils: screening for new accumulator plants in Angouran mine (Iran) and evaluation of removal ability. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 72:1349–1353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dey S, Swarup D, Dwivedi SK (1997) Lead levels in the blood of cows from an industrial area. Indian J Toxicol 4:61–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorriz A, Llacuna S, Riera M, Nadal J (1996) Effects of air pollution on hematological and plasma parameters in Apodemus sylvaticus and Mus musculus. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 31:153–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiratsuka H, Katsuta O, Toyota N, Tsuchitani M, Umemura T, Marumo F (1996) Chronic cadmium exposure-induced renal anemia in ovariectomized rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 137:228–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob B, Ritz B, Heinrich J, Hoelscher B, Wichmann HE (2000) The effect of low-level blood lead on hematologic parameters in children. Environ Res A 82:150–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jain NC (1986) Schalm’s veterinary hematology. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 66–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusum R, Raina PK, Verma NK, Pankaj V, Kant J, Kumar A, Srivastava K (2010) Haematological profile of subacute oral toxicity of molybdenum and ameliorative efficacy of copper salt in goats. Toxicol Int 17:82–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZP (2003) Lead poisoning combined with cadmium in sheep and horses in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal smelters. Sci Total Environ 309:117–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNulty TJ, Taylor CW (1999) Extracellular heavy metal ions stimulate Ca mobilization in hepatocytes. Biochem J 339:555–561

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehennaoui S, Charles E, Joseph Enriquez B, Clauw M, Milhaud GE (1988) Indicators of lead, zinc and cadmium exposure in cattle. II. Controlled feeding and recovery. Vet Hum Toxicol 30:550–555

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda MM, Lopez-Alonso C, Castillo J, Hernandez JL (2005) Effects of moderate pollution on toxic and trace metal levels in calves from a polluted area of northern Spain. Environ Int 31:543–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammadian M, Nouri J, Afshari N, Nassiri J, Nourani M (2008) Investigation of heavy metals concentrations in the water wells close to Zanjan zinc and lead smelting plant. Iran J Health Environ 1:54–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Okada IA, Sakuma AM, May FD, Dovidauskas S, Zenebon O (1997) Evaluation of lead and cadmium levels in milk due to environmental contamination in the Paraiba Valley region of south-eastern Brazil. Rev Publ Health 31:140–143

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parizanganeh A, Hajisoltani P, Zamani AA (2010) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surficial soils surrounding zinc industrial complex in Zanjan-Iran. Procedia Environ Sci 2:162–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patra RC, Swarup D, Naresh R, Kumar P, Shekhar P, Ranjan R (2005) Cadmium level in blood and milk from animals reared around different polluting sources in India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 74:1092–1097

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radostitis OM, Blood DC, Gay CC, Hinchcliff HE (2000) Veterinary medicine. A text book of disease of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. WB Saunders, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Radostitis OM, Gay CC, Hinchcliff KW, Constable PD (2007) Veterinary medicine, 10th edn. W.B. Saunders, London, pp 1798–1802

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogival D, Scheirs J, Coen W, Verhagen R, Blust R (2006) Metal blood levels and hematological characteristics in wood mice (Apodemus sylv aticus L.) along a metal pollution gradient. Environ Toxicol Chem 25:149–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schrotter G, Mostl E, Baumgartner W (2000) Determination of bile acid in serum for diagnosis of liver disorders in dairy cows. Vet Med Austria 87:94–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma S (2002) Studies on oral subacute and chronic toxicities of molybdenum in cross bred cow calves. M.V.Sc thesis, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

  • Swarup D, Patra RC, Naresh R, Kumar P, Shekhar P (2005) Blood lead levels in lactating cows reared around polluted localities; transfer of lead into milk. Sci Total Environ 347:106–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swarup D, Patra RC, Naresh R, Kumar P, Shekhar P, Alagangatharathilagar P (2006) Lowered blood copper and cobalt contents in goats reared around lead–zinc smelter. Small Rumin Res 63:309–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swarup D, Naresh R, Varshney VP, Balagangatharathilagar M, Kumar P, Nandi D, Patra RC (2007) Changes in plasma hormones profile and liver function in cows naturally exposed to lead and cadmium around different industrial areas. Res Vet Sci 82:16–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teodorova S, Metcheva R, Topashka-Ancheva M (2003) Bioaccumulation and damaging action of polymetal industrial dust on laboratory mice Mus musculus alba. I. Analysis of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium disposition and mathematical model for zinc and cadmium bioaccumulation. Environ Res 91:85–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldner C, Checkley S, Blakley B, Pollock C, Mitchell B (2002) Managing lead exposure and toxicity in cow–calf herd to minimize the potential for food residues. J Vet Diagn Investig 14:481–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward NI, Savage JM (1994) Elemental status of grazing animals located adjacent to the London orbital (M25) motorway. Sci Total Environ 147:185–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weeks BA, Anderson DP, DuFour AP, Fairbrother A, Goven AJ, Lahvis GP, Peters G (1992) Immunological biomarkers to assess environmental stress. In: Huggett RJ, Kimerle RA, Mehrle PM Jr, Bergman HL (eds) Biomarkers: biochemical, physiological, and histological markers of anthropogenic stress. SETAC special publication series. Lewis Publ, Boca Raton, pp 211–234

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support of University of Tehran for this research under Grant Number 02/06/27628.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365-4117, Tehran, Iran

    G. Mohajeri, M. A. Norouzian & A. Afzalzadeh

  2. Department of Drug and Food Control, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

    M. Mohseni

Authors
  1. G. Mohajeri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Norouzian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Mohseni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Afzalzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Norouzian.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mohajeri, G., Norouzian, M.A., Mohseni, M. et al. Changes in Blood Metals, Hematology and Hepatic Enzyme Activities in Lactating Cows Reared in the Vicinity of a Lead–Zinc Smelter. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 92, 693–697 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1270-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1270-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation