Effect of environmental exposure of arsenic on cattle and poultry in nadia district, west bengal, India.
A study was undertaken to evaluate an alternative source of arsenicosis in human food chain through livestock. Thirty milch cattle and 20 poultry birds along with their eggs were selected randomly from two endemic villages of Nadia district and one nonendemic villages of Hooghly district in West Bengal, India. Milk, feces, urine, and hair samples of cattle and feed materials, such as water and straw, were collected to analyze arsenic status. Arsenic concentration in egg yolk and albumen from poultry eggs and different poultry organs after culling was estimated. Distribution of arsenic in animal body indicates that major portion of arsenic was eliminated through feces, urine, and milk. Poultry egg yolk, albumen, and poultry products retain arsenic in all organs. Cows and poultry birds reared in endemic zone retain significantly higher concentration of arsenic. Consumption of egg, agricultural produces grown in contaminated soil, and milk might have produced arsenicosis and may be considered as alternative source of arsenic contamination.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, 37, K.B. Sarani, Kolkata, India.
Bakul Kumar
BK
Datta
Moloy Kumar
MK
Bhar
Pabitra Hriday
PH
Patra
Debasish
D
Majumdar
Radha Raman
RR
Dey
Samar
S
Sarkar
Tapan Kumar
TK
Mandal
Animesh Kumar
AK
Chakraborty