Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal, which is mainly absorbed by gastro intestinal tract (GIT). This absorption increases when there is a decrease in the level of iron in body stores. This study was carried to find out that the intake of ferrous sulphate affects the absorption of cadmium chloride from gastro intestinal tract (GIT) of mature rabbits exposed chronically to polluted water with cadmium chloride (CdCl2). Four to five months old rabbits were equally divided into three groups: Control (A), this group offered ordinary tab water, the second treated group (B), offered tap water containing 80 parts per billion (ppb) CdCl2. The third treated group (C), offered tap water containing (80 ppb) CdCl2 with 4mg of ferrous sulphate that are given orally once a day. Cadmium concentration in serum was measured using atomic absorption instrument at the end of experiment which extended for 8 weeks. The results revealed that Cd concentration was increased significantly in the 2nd group (B) as the CdCl2 level in serum reached 2.057 ppb, while it decreases significantly in the 3rd group (C) where the level decreased to 0.455 ppb compared to control group (A). These findings concluded that the supplementing food with iron compounds led to a decrease in serum cadmium levels, where ferrous competes with the absorption of Cd.

The effect of chronic exposure to two different levels of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) 30 ppb and 40 ppb in drinking water for 12 weeks on thyroid function of mature male rabbits was studied. Eighteen mature male rabbits  were randomly divided into three groups (each of six ) , control group (group I ): were offered ordinary tap water , and treated groups (II and III ) were offered tap water containing 30ppb and 40 ppb respectively for 12 weeks .Serum concentration of  thyroxin (T4 ) and triiodothyronine (T3) were measured every six weeks ,as an index  of  thyroid function , further more ,  section of thyroid gland were prepared for histological studies. The results showed that  chronic exposure of male rabbits to two  different levels of  CdCl2  caused significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum T3 and T4 in both treated groups in compared with control group, in addition, there were histological changes in thyroid gland of treated groups manifested by hyperplasia with presence of large number of varying size of microfollicels and hypertrophic thyrocytes, small colloid with little secretion . Key wards: Cadmium, Thyroid gland, Thyroxin, Triiodothyronin, Thyrocyt