Estimation of Some Heavy Metals and Blood Picture in Fattening Bulls in Assiut Governorate

Abstract

Environmental pollutants have hazardous impact on living organisms as they affect the health of livestock as well as human beings. They have been broadly categorized as heavy metals, pesticides and mycotoxins. Lead, and Cadmium, get deposited in the vital organs through the food chain. Blood being a major medium of transfer of heavy metals into milk and other tissues including meat. It is necessary to assess the levels of these metals in bull blood. Forty random samples of blood were collected from native breed fattening bulls from villages located nearby Assiut City, Assiut Governorate, Egypt were used in this study. Blood levels of lead, cadmium, copper and iron with Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP). Blood picture were estimated with automatic cell counter. This study revealed that blood levels (ppm) for heavy metals were ranged from 17.49-77.00 for Pb, 0.0142-0.9625 for Cd, 3.424-6.325 for Cu and 385-614 for Fe. All estimated blood parameters were within the normal levels. In conclusion: Despite the presence of potential sources of environmental contaminants containing heavy metals, the level of these metals in the blood of bulls reached the alarming level and continuous monitoring should be done. Necessary action should have to be taken to avoid hazardous situation which may arise in future for betterment of next generation.