Department of Environmental Science, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan.
Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 23;14(1):16918. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-67792-2.
The aim of the present research was to investigate the presence of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) in blood samples from cows raised with irrigated wastewater, as well as in the wastewater itself, in the North-western region of Pakistan. A total of 60 blood samples were collected from five different locations in Kohat, namely Tappi Road (TR), Pindi Road (PR), Gul Malik Road (GMR), Markaz Road (MR), and a control group. The samples of both i.e. cow blood and wastewater were analyzed for the concentrations of heavy metals. The highest concentration of Cd was detected in the MR site with a mean value of 0.03 mg/L, and the highest concentration of Cu (0.04 mg/L) was recorded in the TR site, while the lowest level was found in the control group with a mean of 0.002 mg/L in blood samples. The highest Cr and Pb concentrations were found at the PR site, with mean values of 0.03 and 0.07 mg/L, respectively, whereas the control group had the lowest concentrations, with mean values of 0.002 and 0.01 mg/L. Similarly, heavy metal concentrations were analyzed in wastewater used for irrigation in the study area. Results indicated elevated concentrations of Cu and Cr in wastewater, although they remained below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended values except for Cr (0.13 mg/L) in the GMR site, which exceeded permissible limits. Cd and Pb concentrations in wastewater were relatively low, but Cd concentration surpassed WHO limits, particularly with a mean concentration of 0.08 mg/L in the TR site. Comparison between heavy metal concentrations in blood and wastewater revealed higher values of Cd and Pb in blood samples than in wastewater, while Cu and Cr concentrations were higher in water compared to blood. Additionally, elevated levels of Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), antioxidant enzyme Catalase (CAT), and oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected in blood samples. Cluster and principal component analyses were employed to assess heavy metal toxicity among the groups, indicating potential long-term adverse health effects on animals, transfer to humans, and toxicity in living organisms.
本研究旨在调查巴基斯坦西北部地区使用灌溉废水饲养的奶牛的血液样本以及废水中存在的重金属，如铅（Pb）、铜（Cu）、铬（Cr）和镉（Cd）。共从五个不同地点采集了 60 份奶牛血液样本，分别是 Kohat 的 Tappi Road（TR）、Pindi Road（PR）、Gul Malik Road（GMR）、Markaz Road（MR）和对照组。对牛血和废水样本进行了重金属浓度分析。结果显示，在 MR 地区检测到的 Cd 浓度最高，平均值为 0.03mg/L，在 TR 地区检测到的 Cu（0.04mg/L）浓度最高，而对照组的浓度最低，平均值为 0.002mg/L。在 PR 地区检测到的 Cr 和 Pb 浓度最高，平均值分别为 0.03 和 0.07mg/L，而对照组的浓度最低，平均值分别为 0.002 和 0.01mg/L。同样，对研究区域灌溉用废水中的重金属浓度进行了分析。结果表明，Cu 和 Cr 的浓度较高，尽管除了 GMR 地区的 Cr（0.13mg/L）外，其浓度均低于世界卫生组织（WHO）推荐值。废水中的 Cd 和 Pb 浓度相对较低，但 Cd 浓度超过了 WHO 限值，尤其是在 TR 地区，平均值为 0.08mg/L。对血液和废水中重金属浓度的比较表明，血液样本中的 Cd 和 Pb 浓度高于废水，而 Cu 和 Cr 浓度则高于血液。此外，血液样本中检测到超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、抗氧化酶过氧化氢酶（CAT）和氧化应激标志物丙二醛（MDA）的水平升高。采用聚类和主成分分析评估了各组重金属的毒性，表明动物可能会受到长期的不良健康影响，这些影响会转移到人类身上，并对生物体产生毒性。
