Toxic Metals Profiles in Hair Samples from Street Roaming Animals at Yelwa-Yauri Town, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Assessment of toxic metals profiles in hair samples from street roaming animals in Yelwa-Yauri town, North Western, Nigeria was carried out. Hair samples for the analyses were collected from 108 animal (54 sheep and 54 goats) roaming the street of Yelwa-Yauri town and 45 samples from animals in the neighboring villages. Levels of heavy minerals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy after microwave induced acid digestion. The mean levels of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were 2.09, 0.19, 43.01, 49.12, 2.05 and 54.50 µg/g and 1.96, 2.30, 55.30, 61.03, 1.93 and 62.10 µg/g in goats and sheep respectively. Levels of essential heavy metals (Co, Cu, Fe and Zn) in sheep hair were higher than those of goats, while levels of non-essential heavy metals (Cd and Pb) in goat’s hair were higher than in sheep. Pearson correlation matrix results in both goats and sheep hair, reveals that Cu and Co (r = 0.030) and Fe and Cu (r = 0.011) had significant (p<0.05) positive correlation. Lead and cadmium (r = 0.00), have zero correlation, while the remaining either had negative significant (p<0.05) correlation or were not correlated significantly, with the exception of Fe and Cu (r = 0.040), which had positive significant (p<0.05) correlation in sheep. Generally, levels of heavy metals in this study were lower than reported values in similar studies elsewhere, which suggested safe or non-toxic levels. Higher levels of some toxic metals in the animal’s hair may be cause for concern as this may lead to disease in the animals or humans through food chain.