Open AccessLead Levels in Tissues of Local Scavenger Chickens in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Author(s) -
H. I. Gambo,
Shehu Usman Hassan,
I.O. Igbokwe,
Yaqub Ahmed Geidam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sahel journal of veterinary sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2756-6803
DOI - 10.54058/saheljvs.v18i2.243
Subject(s) - bioaccumulation , lead pollution , lead (geology) , kidney , scavenger , environmental pollution , zoology , lead exposure , biology , veterinary medicine , physiology , pollution , medicine , endocrinology , environmental protection , biochemistry , ecology , antioxidant , environmental science , cats , paleontology
Mineral mining activities with environmental pollution in Nigeria resulted in lead intoxication in humans and livestock. The likelihood of lead contamination of the environment from non-mining sources may exist in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. The study was carried out to evaluate the bioaccumulation of lead in extensively reared local scavenger chickens-LSC (Gallus gallusdomesticus) in Maiduguri. Two hundred samples each of the liver, kidney, intestine, muscle and blood were tested for lead using standard methods in toxicologic evaluation. There were significant (p 0.05) sex differences existed in the frequency of lead detection. Mean lead level in the liver of males was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of females with the highest and lowest mean lead levels occurring in the liver and kidney of male chickens, respectively. The highest lead level detected was 414 µg/kg; in the kidney of a female LSC. It was therefore concluded that environmental pollution with lead may be detected in LSCthat bioaccumulate lead; with the liver having the highest affinity.