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bioRxiv · 10.1101/459644

The effect of heavy metal contamination on human and animal health in the vicinity of a zinc smelter

Shen, X.·Chi, Y.·Xiong, K.
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Abstract

A diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning in sheep living on pasture in the vicinity of a zinc smelter was made based on laboratory tests and clinical signs in livestock in the Wumeng mountain area of China. Heavy metal contamination has generated serious harm to the health of local farmers after passing through the food chain. The levels of copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead in irrigation water, soil, forages, and animal tissues were measured in samples taken from within the vicinity of a zinc smelter and control samples. Heavy metal concentrations in foods (corn, rice, and wheat) and human tissues (blood and hair) from local farmers living in affected areas and controls were also determined. Hematological values were determined in human and animal samples. The copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead concentrations in irrigation water, soils, and forages were markedly higher than the levels in healthy pastures. Cadmium and lead concentrations were 177.82 and 16.61 times greater in forages than controls, respectively, and 68.71 and 15.66 times greater in soils than controls, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations in food (corn, rice, and wheat) in affected areas were markedly higher than in the control samples. Cadmium and lead concentrations in the tissues of affected sheep were markedly higher than in control animals (P< 0.01). Cadmium and lead concentrations in blood and hair samples from affected farmers were markedly higher than the control samples (P < 0.01). The occurrence of anemia in affected persons and animals followed a hypochromic and microcytic pattern. The intake of cadmium and lead was estimated according to herbage ingestion rates. It was found that the levels of cadmium and lead accumulated in sheep through the ingestion of vegetation growing in the sites closest to the zinc smelter were approximately 3.36 mg Cd/kg body wt./day and 38.47 mg Pb/kg body wt./day. This surpassed the fatal dosages for sheep of 1.13 mg Cd/kg body wt/day and 4.42 mg Pb/kg body wt./day. Serum total antioxidant capacity in affected humans and animals was significantly lower than in the controls (P < 0.01). The serum protein parameters in affected humans and animals were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). It was therefore concluded that heavy metal contamination has caused serious harm to sheep in this area. The heavy metal concentrations in food and grain also pose a significant risk to human health in the Chinese Wumeng mountain area.

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Shen, X., Chi, Y., Xiong, K.. 2018-11-01. The effect of heavy metal contamination on human and animal health in the vicinity of a zinc smelter. https://doi.org/10.1101/459644

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