Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Quantitative analysis of lead in cows and buffaloes for health assessment

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the concentration of highly toxic heavy metal, lead (Pb), in cows and buffaloes of Sargodha district, Punjab, Pakistan. Samples of three major organs (spleen, lungs, bones) from five localities were obtained from two age groups (< 2 years, > 2 years) of each animal. With the confidence level of 95%, the investigated results demonstrated that lead concentration ranged from 0.28 to 1.12 mg kg−1 and 0.31 to 0.83 mg kg−1 in cows and buffaloes respectively. Out of the three tested organs, spleen contained the highest level of Pb (0.64–0.83 mg/kg) followed by lungs (0.28–1.12 mg/kg) and bones (0.36–0.87 mg/kg). Furthermore, a significant increase of Pb was observed in older animals. It was demonstrated that both age groups had Pb accumulation higher than the standard limit of 0.1 mg kg−1. Serving as bioindicators, the presence of toxic levels of lead in the animals indicated environmental pollution and possible risks for public health. High lead concentration in dietary commodities from Sargodha district calls for the sound management of hazardous waste. High levels of this toxic metal also indicate the possible health risks to human population of the areas in Sargodha. It is highly needed to address this metal contamination and its probable entry route into the food chain of the domesticated animals. This must be further investigated to prevent animals from lead exposure.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdelbasset C, Rabia E, Abdallah B, Boubker N, AbdelKhalid E (2014) Distribution of trace elements and heavy metals in liver, lung, meat, heart and kidney of cattle, sheep, camel and equine slaughtered in Casablanca city-Morocco. Int J Sci Eng Res 5:294–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Abou Donia MA (2008) Lead concentration in different animal muscles and consumable organs at specific localities at Cairo. Global Vet 2:280–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Abou-Arab AAK (2001) Heavy metals contents in Egyptian meat and the role of detergents washing on their levels. Food Chem Toxicol 39:593–599

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adebayo GB, Otunola GO, Oladipo FO (2009) Determination of trace elements in selected organs of cow for safety consumption among rural dwellers in Kwara state, Nigeria. Pak J Nutr 8:1855–1857

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad K, Khan ZI, Shaheen M, Seidavi AR (2012) Dynamics of magnesium, copper and zinc from soil to forages grown in semiarid area in Sargodha, Pakistan. Legum Res 35:294–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad K, Nawaz K, Khan ZI, Nadeem M, Wajid K, Ashfaq A, Munir B, Memoona H, Sana M, Shaheen F, Kokab R, Rehman S Ullah MF, Mehmood Net al (2018) Effect of diverse regimes of irrigation on metals accumulation in wheat crop: an assessment-dire need of the day. Fresenius Environ Bull 27:846–855

  • Alonso ML, Mantaña FP, Miranda M, Castilho C, Hernández J, Benedito JL (2004) Interactions between toxic (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) and nutritional essential (Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn) elements in the tissues of cattle from NW Spain. Biometals 17:397–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arshad M, Mehmood N, Lashari MH, Mustafa I, Muqadas H, Siddique F, Batool AI, Malik A, Zubair F (2015) Measurement of cadmium contamination in spleen, lung and bone of cows and buffaloes in district Sargodha. Punjab, Pakistan Int J Med Appl Health 3:71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Asegbeloyin JN, Onyimonyi AE, Ujam OT, Ukwueze NN, Ukoha PO (2010) Assessment of toxic trace metals in selected fish species and parts of domestic animals. Pak J Nutr 9:213–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bagar N, Manzoor M, Qadir M (2015) Accumulation of heavy metals in edible organs of different meat pro biometals ducts available in the markets of Lahore, Pakistan. Pak J Sci Ind Res 58:92–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Luburić ĐB, Kolanović BS, Varenina I, Murati T (2016) Lead concentrations in raw cow and goat milk collected in rural areas of Croatia from 2010 to 2014. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 96:645–649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff K, Hillebrandt J, Erb HN, Thompson B, Johns S (2016) Comparison of blood and tissue lead concentrations from cattle with known lead exposure. Food Addit Contam A 33:1563–1569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carneiro M, Colaço B, Colaço J, Faustino-Rocha AI, Colaço A, Lavin S, Oliveira PA (2016) Biomonitoring of metals and metalloids with raptors from Portugal and Spain: a review. Environ Rev 24:63–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan V, Blakley B (2016) Acute lead poisoning in western Canadian cattle-a 16-year retrospective study of diagnostic case records. Can Vet J 57:421–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Dogan Y, Baslar S, Ugulu I (2014) A study on detecting heavy metal accumulation through biomonitoring: content of trace elements in plants at Mount Kazdagi in Turkey. Appl Ecol Environ Res 12:627–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ansary M, El-Leboudy A (2015) Levels of cadmium and lead in raw cow and buffalo’s milk samples collected from local markets of El-Behera governorate. Alex J Vet Sci 47:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2006) Commission regulation (EC) No.1181/2006: setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in food stuffs. Available webpage (URL): http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:02006R1881-20100701

  • Iwegbue CMA (2008) Heavy metal composition of livers and kidneys of cattle from Southern Nigeria. Veterinarski Archiv 78:401–410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson FM (1998) The genetic effects of environmental lead. Mutat Res 410:123–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZI, Ahmad K, Ali AM, Hussain A, Bibi Z, Zill-E-Huma UMF, Rehman SU, Shad HA, Sher M, Noorka IR, Ashrad F, Mustafa I (2015b) Evaluation of heavy metals in potential fodders and forages growing in Khushab, Pakistan. Int J Sci Nat 6:275–278

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZI, Ahmad K, Mustafa I, Seidavi AR, Hussain A, Sher M, Ayube M, Yousaf M, Zahoor AF, Hussain G, Annjum A (2014) Appraisal of transfer of a few crucial minerals from forage to ruminants: a case study in Pakistan. J Fac Vet Med Istanbul Univ 40:76–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZI, Ahmad K, Nudrat AA, Mustafa I, Ibrahim M, Fardous A, Gondal S, Hussain A, Arshad F, Noorka IR, Yousaf M, Zahoor AF, Sher M, Hussain A, Shad HA, Rashid U (2015a) Heavy metals concentration in soil-plant-animal continuum under semi-arid conditions of Punjab, Pakistan. Pak J Zool 47(2):377–382

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZI, Ahmad K, Yasmeen S, Akram NA, Ashraf M, Mehmood N (2017) Potential health risk assessment of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown on metal contaminated soils in the central zone of Punjab, Pakistan. Chemosphere 166:157–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZI, Ugulu I, Umar S, Ahmad K, Mehmood N, Ashfaq A, Bashir H, Sohail M (2018) Potential toxic metal accumulation in soil, forage and blood plasma of buffaloes sampled from Jhang, Pakistan. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 101:235–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koyuncu M, Alwazeer D (2019) Determination of trace elements, heavy metals, and antimony in polyethylene terephthalate-bottled local raw cow milk of Iğdır region in Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 191:666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus M, Vicković I, Sostarić B, Blanusai M (2005) Heavy metal levels in tissues of red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Eastern Croatia. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 56:233–240

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López-Alonso M, Benedito JL, Miranda M, Castillo C, Hernández JR, Shore RF (2000) Arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in cattle from Galicia, NW Spain. Sci Total Environ 246:237–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mariam I, Iqbal S, Nagra SA (2004) Distribution of some trace and microminerals in beef, mutton and poultry. Int J Agric Biol 6:816–820

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massadeh AM, El-Khateeb MY, Ibrahim SM (2017) Evaluation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in selected cosmetic products from Jordanian, Sudanese, and Syrian markets. Public Health 149:130–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehmood A, Sarfaraz RA, Qudoos A, Akbar F (2014) Appraisal of some heavy metals in organ meat from non-industrialized areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Glob Vet 12:98–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Miranda M, López-Alonso M, Castillo C, Herandez J, Benedito JL (2005) Effect 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 

  • Mitranescut E, Tăpăloagă D, Bianu B, Simion V, Butaru D, Tudor L (2007) Heavy metals pollution (Pb, Cd) and its influence on animals raised in a non-ferrous ore processing unit. International Society for Animal Hygiene, Tartu, Estonia, pp 181–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Mousa HM, Al-Qarawi AA, Ali BH, Rehman HAA, ElMougy SA (2002) Effect of lead exposure on the erthrocytic antioxidant levels in goats. J Vel Med A 49:531–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nwude DO, Babayemi JO, Abhulimen IO (2011) Metal quantification in cattle: a case of cattle at slaughter at Ota Abattoir, Nigeria. J Toxicol Env Heal Sci 3:271–274

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nwude DO, Okoye PAC, Babayemi JO (2010) Assessment of accumulation of heavy metals in the kidney of cattle as a function of seasonal variation. Afri J Anim Biomed Sci 5:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Okoye COB, Ugwu JN (2010) Impact of environmental cadmium, lead, copper and zinc on quality of goat meat in Nigeria. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop 24:133–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pakistan Economic Survey (2016–2017) Economic Adviser’s Wing, Finance Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. Available webpage (URL): http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_1617.html

  • Płaza A, Gąsiorowska B, Rzążewska E (2019) Heavy metal content in the green fodder of field pea/oat mixtures destined for cattle feed. Environ Monit Assess 191:680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahimi I (2013) Lead and cadmium concentrations in goat, cow, sheep, and buffalo milks from different regions of Iran. Food Chem 136:389–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raikwar MK, Kumar P, Singh M, Singh A (2008) Toxic effects of heavy metals in livestock health. Vet World 1:28–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis LS, Pardo PE, Camargos AS, Oba E (2010) Mineral element and heavy metal poisoning in animals. J Med Med Sci 15:560–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawaileh KMM, Abdulkhaliq A, Hussein RM, Matani M (2009) Distribution of toxic metals in organs of local cattle, sheep, goat and poultry from the West Bank, Palestinian authority. B Environ Contam Tox 83:265–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sawalha H, Alsharabaty R, Sarsour S, Al-Jabari M (2019) Wastewater from leather tanning and processing in Palestine: characterization and management aspects. J Environ Manag 251:109596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqui MF, Rajurkar GR (2008) Lead-an emerging threat to livestock. Vet World 1:213–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Stavreva-Veselinovska S, Živanović J (2010) Lead concentration in different animal tissues, muscles and organs at specific localities in Probištip and its surroundings. Natura Montenegrina, Podgorica 10:160–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Steel RGD, Torrie JH (1980) Principles and procedures of statistics: a biometrical approach. McGraw Hill Book Co, New York, pp 1–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson L (2012) Lead. In: Gupta R (ed) Veterinary toxicology: basic and clinical principles, 2nd edn. Elsevier Academic Press, New York, pp 522–526

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ugulu I (2015) Determination of heavy metal accumulation in plant samples by spectrometric techniques in Turkey. Appl Spectrosc Rev 50:113–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waseem A, Arshad J, Iqbal F, Sajjad A, Mehmood Z, Murtaza G (2014) Pollution status of Pakistan: a retrospective review on heavy metal contamination of water, soil, and vegetables. Biomed Res Int 2014:813206. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/813206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2000) Environmental health criteria. World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and Department of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha, Pakistan for providing laboratory facilities. We also gratefully acknowledge all the institutional colleagues for their assistance during research period.

Funding

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is acknowledged for providing the financial support with a research project (grant no. 2484/13). It is also financially supported by the Major Projects of Horizontal Cooperation between Fuyang Municipal Government and Fuyang Normal University (No. XDHX201725) and Anhui Provincial Educational Commission Natural Science Foundation (No. KJ2019ZD36) and the Biology First-Class Construction Discipline Project of Fuyang Normal University (No. 19XJS0710).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Wuyi Liu and Naunain Mehmood contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Qing He West Road No. 100, Fuyang, 236037, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Wuyi Liu

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

    Naunain Mehmood & Muhammad Arshad

  3. Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

    Humera Saeed & Zafar Iqbal Khan

  4. Department of Zoology, The Women University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

    Hira Muqaddas

Authors
  1. Wuyi Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Naunain Mehmood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Humera Saeed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Muhammad Arshad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zafar Iqbal Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hira Muqaddas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wuyi Liu or Zafar Iqbal Khan.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by the institutional animal ethical standards under SU//102.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, W., Mehmood, N., Saeed, H. et al. Quantitative analysis of lead in cows and buffaloes for health assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 8621–8627 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07556-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07556-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation