Assessment of Cadmium in Sewage Water Irrigated Soil and its Transfer to Fodder with Respect to Health of Livestock

Abstract

Heavy metal concentration in sewage water irrigation of fodders, milk, and soil was studied. It was a serious issue because excess of sewage water is used for irrigating crops and due to excessive use of waste-water heavy metals build up in plants and when animals consume these plants metals transfer to their bodies and milk causes different problems. Six samples were collected Trifolium alexandrinum, Avena sativa, Zea mays, Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum bicolor, Brassica campestris from five sites. All the samples were digested by wet digestion method. After digestion a clear transparent solution of all samples was obtained which was analyzed in atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Different indices were applied including bio concentration factor, daily intake of metals, health risk index, enrichment factor, pollution lad index, correlations of fodders, soil and milk was done. Pollution load index of current study was less than 1 which indicates that soil was less polluted. Health risk for Cd was present higher than 1 which was an indication of risk to health of animals in eating Cd contaminated fodders. Daily intake of metal was lower than 1 it showed there was no risk in consuming fodders to health of animals. In water samples level of Cd was higher above permissible limit. Cd mean concentration was higher in milk than permissible limit which showed that animals graze more contaminated fodder in open areas and drink waste-water that�s why metals accumulate in their tissues and milk causing toxicity.