Comparison of Heavy Metal Residues on Sheep That Grazing in Landfill Area Before and After Elimination Process

Abstract
Description
Determination of heavy metal content on livestock that grazing in landfill area is important to determine the potential effects of pollutants and for the quantification of residues that would be consumed by humans. Four sheep (n = 4) aged 6-12 months with weight ±25 kg are selected to be used as a sample. The selected sheep are known grazing in an area of landfill area from birth. As control was used one sheep that grazing normally. The first two sheep were slaughtered and some organs were taken (meat, blood, feces, skin, kidneys, liver, feathers, intestines, and fat). Those organs were tested for the presence of residues of heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Two last sheep taken from the landfill area were grazed in regular grassland. After three months, the second group of sheep were slaughtered and treated similar to the first group of sheep and tested against heavy metal residues using AAS. Residue level of four heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) from the sample of the first group of sheep was determined and the results were compared with the level of heavy metal residues from the sample of second group of sheep. The results show a significant difference (P<0.05) of the heavy metals residue content of Cd, Pb, Hg and As in the sample before and after elimination process. Efforts of elimination of pollutant residues by moving the livestock from grazing in landfill area to regular grazing could be one of the methods to reduce the levels of heavy metal residues in livestock.
Keywords
Heavy Metal; Landfill Areal; Sheep; Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
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