Bioaccumulation of Cadmium in Gallus Fed in Punjab, Pakistan: A Human Health Concern

Abstract

A research project was conducted to investigate the cadmium bioaccumulation in chickens fed. In this direction, cadmium concentration was determined in maize plant parts and in seven tissues of chickens to study the potential human risk of consumption of these chickens by finding out the cadmium target hazard quotient - THQ ([1). In addition, the pollution load index for soil was also determined. The concentration of cadmium in maize and chicken body parts was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. During the spring, maximum cadmium level (01.60 � 0.47 mg / kg) was noticed in seeds of cultivar Sadaf irrigated with sewage and waste water. During autumn, the highest concentration of cadmium (0.99 � 0.04 mg / kg) was noticed in seeds of cultivar MMRI irrigated with sewage water. Results indicated that the transfer of cadmium into chickens via grains owes to the irrigated of these plants with waste water. Pollution load index - PLI values in canal and sewage water treatment were greater than 1.00, indicated that soil is polluted. The results were also debated and related with acceptable values to appraise whether this species pose any health risk to human after its consumption or not. Though the target hazard quotient values for the poultry edibles were less than 1.00, indicated that these parts even from the group of chickens reared on the sewage water treated grains were harmless for human health. But higher Cd concentration in the Gallus group reared on the seeds grown on waste water indicated the need of an ample investigation to combat the problems related to flow of toxic heavy metals in a food chain.