Blood heavy metal levels in cows at slaughter at Awka Abattoir, Nigeria

Abstract

Pollution has become a global problem and the results are implied in high levels of contanminants reported for soil, water, air, plants and animals. Blood being a major medium of transfer of heavy metals into milk as indicated in several literatures, it is necessary to constantly assess the levels of these metals in cow tissues, cow being a major source of milk in several countries. Hence, blood levels of Pb, Cd, Co, Zn, Cu andFe in cows at slaughter at Awka abattoir, Nigeria, at three different seasons, are assessed in this investigation. The blood samples were digested and analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The blood levels of Pb range from 0.21-10.6 mg kg-1, Cd, 0.004-0.02 mg kg-1, Co, 0.10-0.97 mg kg-1, Zn, 2.32-12.4 mg kg-1, Cu, 0.04-2.00 mg kg-1 andFe, 0.73-2.14 mg kg-1. There were significant correlations between the levels of Cd and Cu, Cd and Zn and Co and Zn. © 2010 Academic Journals Inc.