Estimation of Lead and Cadmium Concentration in Dung Samples of Dairy Cows

Author: A. Yasotha

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Abstract

Presence of heavy metal in the environment has become a major hazard to human and animals as it is a persistent pollutant. Accumulation of toxic heavy metals contaminates the food chain and cause health threat to the consumers. A field research was conducted to estimate the level of toxic heavy metals present in dung samples of dairy cattle reared around industrial areas of Vellore, Tiruppur and Karur districts of Tamil Nadu. A total number of 96 samples were collected from dairy cattle to estimate the presence of toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in dung samples. The highest mean lead concentration of 2.376 ± 0.461 ppm was recorded from dung samples of dairy cows in Karur district and all the samples were positive for lead in the study areas. However, the mean cadmium concentration (0.436±0.075 ppm) was highest in Tiruppur district. The percentage of total samples exceeded the mean value of dung was 29.17 per cent for lead and 22.92 per cent for cadmium.

Keywords

lead, cadmium, dung samples, cow.

Conclusion

Among the toxic metals studied, the highest mean lead concentration in dung sample of dairy cows was recorded in Karur district whereas, the highest mean cadmium concentration was recorded in Karur district. Furthermore, the highest mean concentration of lead in Karur was five times higher than the highest mean cadmium concentration in dung sample of dairy cows from Tiruppur. The study requires further analysis with more number of samples at periodical interval to arrive at concrete conclusion for carrying out the remedial measures.

References

The toxic heavy metals coming from various industries like electroplating, automobile exhaustions and bicycle manufacturing industries entering the ecosystem may lead to geo accumulation, bioaccumulation and bio-magnification (Sherene, 2012). Industrial activities lead to possible transfer of heavy metals to cows from their rearing environment like water and plant, which can be accumulated and cause potential health risks to milk consumers (Yasotha et al., 2021). Lead being an abundant mineral with worldwide distribution pose threat to animal health and is accumulated in environment by industrial pollution (Patra et al., 2006). Among the water sources surface water samples had greater pollution than groundwater (Carolene et al., 2018) Higher level of cadmium on the plant leaves was attributed to the direct foliar deposition from agrochemicals and foliar absorption via atmospheric emission (Okunola et al., 2008). Roofing materials of the dairy animal house influenced the physiological

How to cite this article

A. Yasotha (2022). Estimation of Lead and Cadmium Concentration in Dung Samples of Dairy Cows. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(1): 1653-1655.