Heavy metal transportation from polluted water into human through fodder plants and farmed animals

Abstract

Herein we have determined the heavy metals concentrations (Pb, Cd, and Ni) estimated in River Swat water, irregated soils samples, fodder plant's parts, farmed animal milk/meat samples and human blood from two location Mingora and Barikot in District Swat, Pakistan, using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and Ni were found 0.016 +/- 0.008, 0.50 +/- 0.03, and 0.022 +/- 0.004 mg/L in Mingora drain water, respectively, while in the Barikot sample the aforementioned metal were in the range of 0.014 +/- 0.01, 0.29 +/- 0.02, and 0.108 +/- 0.08 mg/L. In the field water samples of Mingora the Cd, Pb and Ni were detected in the range of 0.008 +/- 0.001, 0.65 +/- 0.05 and 0.032 +/- 0.006 mg/L, respectively, while in the field water samples of Barikot contained Cd = 0.016 +/- 0.007 mg/L, Pb = 0.48 +/- 0.04 mg/L and Ni = 0.043 +/- 0.003 mg/L. Drain soil of Mingora contained the highest concentrations of heavy metals, with Cd = 3.9 +/- 0.62 mg/kg, Pb = 45.5 +/- 3.2 mg/kg, and Ni = 19.95 +/- 2.1 mg/kg, whereas field soil contained Cd = 1.6 +/- 0.44 mg/kg, Pb = 54.5 +/- 2.26 mg/kg, and Ni = 34.75 +/- 3.2 mg/kg. Cd in the Barikot drain soil was 3.95 +/- 0.71 mg/kg, while it was 0.8 +/- 0.06 mg/kg in the field soil.Lead in the same drain sample was 33 +/- 3.23 mg/kg, while it was 72 +/- 4.15 mg/kg in the field sample. Ni concentrations in Barikot drain soil samples was 13.85 +/- 1.1 mg/ kg, while 6.9 +/- 0.8 mg/kg was detected in field samples. From the results it can be concluded that appreciable concentrations of heavy metals are present in milk and meat samples of farmed animals whereas significant quantities are also there in human blood samples indicating the transport of the selected metals from water through fodder plants into human. However, it may not be the sole reason heavy metal contaminations in human blood other factors like inhalation etc. may also be equally responsible.