PJB-2018-652
ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL’S RISK OF ANIMAL HEALTH VIA CONSUMPTION OF MAIZE PLANTS GROWN WITH VARYING QUALITY OF WASTEWATER, SOURCE APPORTIONMENT AND FOOD SECURITY IN PERI-URBAN AREAS OF MULTAN CITY, PAKISTAN
Zafar Iqbal
Abstract
The study was conducted in Multan city, Pakistan to assess the risk of heavy metals on animal health via consumption of maize plants (fodder) grown with different qualities of wastewater/water and its source apportionment. Total 120 samples (wastewater, soil, raw milk and maize plants) from six sites were collected and analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb contents by ICP-OES. The maize plants grown with industrial effluents were highest contaminated and exhibited highest carcinogenic health risk and the lowest at the canal water irrigation site. The TTHQ values ranged between 27.44 and 80.34 at wastewater, 2.32 and 5.0 at canal water and 3.68 and 7.5 at tube well water irrigation site. The maize plants at all sites exhibited carcinogenic health risk to the exposed population of animals. The multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the wastewater/water containing heavy metals and contaminated soil are common sources of maize plants contamination. The consumption of contaminated maize plant to lactating animals is resulting in milk contamination which indicates that the application of wastewater/water containing heavy metals in irrigation is causing food chain contamination. The wastewater is not suitable to grow maize plants to use as fodder for animals.
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