Several health risks have been linked to exposure to environmental toxicants in food consume by man. This study aimed to determine the level of environmental toxicants in goats tended by rural farmers. Fur and blood samples were carefully collected from sixteen (16) goats in open range husbandry (ex situ) at four sites in Amawzari, Imo State, Nigeria. The samples were digested and analyzed separately to determine the concentrations of some environmental toxicants (heavy metals). The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni in blood were 0.01 to 0.05, 0.01 to 0.07, 0.00 to 0.01 and 0.05 to 0.12 mg/kg, while their concentration in fur were 0.02 to 0.03, 0.001 to 0.006, 0.00 to 0.00, and 0.04 to 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis show very strong positive relationship between Pb in blood and Pb in fur (r = 0.855, p < 0.01) and Ni in blood and Ni in fur (r = 0.811, p < 0.01). The order of abundance of the four heavy metals tested in goat fur and blood is Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd. Based on our findings, the concentrations of heavy metals in blood were higher than its corresponding values in fur. Thus, consumption of meat processed from these metal-contaminated goats and utilization of their blood to manufacture blood meal for pigs and poultry birds will result to bio-magnification of heavy metals in man and animals. Therefore, we recommend that rural farmers should be enlightened on health challenges associated with in situ form of animal husbandry.

This study investigated the magnitude of potentially toxic element (PTE) in fecal sludge and the level of contamination of soil and food crops at Ubakala, Abia State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected in four cardinal points at north (N), south (S), east (E) and west (W) of 1 m, 5 m, 15 m and 30 m from the edge of the fecal sludge dumpsite and standards (2 ppm, 4 ppm and 6 ppm) were prepared from 1000 ppm stock solution of the metals and used to plot the calibration curve with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Commonly consumed Carica papaya, Telfairia occidentalis and Manihot esculenta leaf samples were collected and analyzed to measure the concentrations of PTEs such as Cd, Zn Cr, Mn, Pb and Cu. The concentrations of Zn (12.41±0.30 mg/kg), Cd (0.07±0.00 mg/kg), Cr (4.47±0.34 mg/kg), Cu (2.12±0.03 mg/kg), Mn (8.13±0.03 mg/kg) and Pb (0.01±0.00 mg/kg) in dried fecal sludge are below the permitted limits of European Union. Concentrations of PTEs in soil and plants were Zn (13.40±1.20 to 100.80±1.40 and 1.24±0.06 to 56.02±5.02 mg/kg), Cd (0.07±0.01 to 0.92±0.02 and 0.0000±0.000 to 0.085±0.01 mg/kg), Cu (6.27±0.31 to 31.39±1.04 and 0.002±0.001 to 10.80±2.01 mg/kg), Mn (36.00±1.56 to 188.57±2.25 and 0.11±0.00 to 17.21±2.01 mg/kg), Cr (2.40±0.40 to 21.03±1.43 and 0.000±0.00 to 9.60±1.13 mg/kg) and Pb (0.09±0.02 to 0.35±0.03 and <0.00001±0.00 to 0.008±0.00 mg/kg), respectively. Zinc in soil is higher than FAO/WHO permissible limit while Cd in soil is higher than FAO/WHO limit and Dutch criteria for soil. Zinc and Cr in food crops are higher than FAO/WHO permissible limit. Strong positive relationship exist between Zn in soil and food crops (r = 0.616, p<0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended that the fecal sludge should be treated with lime to precipitate PTE content of sludge and lowering the corresponding environmental risks.