Metal bioaccumulation, enzymatic activity, total protein and hematology of feral pigeon (Columba livia), living in the courtyard of Ferronickel smelter in Drenas

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

I. Elezaj, , , ¹ , Q. Selimi ² , K. Letaj ³ , A. Plakiq ⁴

1 - Department of Biology, University of Prishtina, P.O.Box 10.000 Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo
2 - Department of Biology, University of Prishtina, P.O.Box 10.000 Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo
3 - Department of Biology, University of Prishtina, P.O.Box 10.000 Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo
4 - Department of Biology, University of Prishtina, P.O.Box 10.000 Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo

Received: 2011-09-28 Accepted : 2018-10-29 Published : 2011-09-28

Keywords: enzymes, pigeon, Hematology, Metals,

Abstract :

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of  Ferronickel smelter in concentration  of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel in tissue of femur, tibia, liver kidney and testes, levels of plasma alanin aminotransferase (ALT), aspartat aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AP) blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D), serum total proteins, hematocrit and hemoglobin in Feral  pigeons.  Pb was detectable only in tissues of femur and tibia; Cd and Cu in liver and kidney, Zn in all tissues while Ni only in tissues of pigeons of courtyard smelter. Zn concentration was significantly higher (P<0.05) in kidney of courtyard smelter in comparison with reference. Plasma AP was significantly higher (P<0.001) in pigeons of reference in comparison with pigeons of courtyard smelter, while ALT and AST were relatively unchanged. The ALA-D activity of pigeons from courtyard of smelter was significantly inhibited (P<0.001) and an inverse correlation between Pb concentration in femur and tibia and ALA-D activity (r = -877; P<0.001; r = -0.787; P<0.01) was established. The total serum proteins of pigeons of courtyard of smelter was significantly lower (P<0.001). Hematocrit and haemoglobin were unchanged. Suggestion: Feral pigeons as worth biomonitoring organisms for evaluation of environmental pollution based on Ferronickel industry.

References:

1. Aamildl, D.1992. The concentration of nickel and
2. copper in some important plants in South
3. Varanger, Norway.-In Kismul, V., Jerre.J. &
4. Lobersli, E., eds. Effects of air pollution on
5. terrestrial ecosystems in border between
6. Russia and Norway. SFT Document 92,
7. :202-209.
8. Amadur, M.O., J. Doull, and C.D. Klassen, 1986.
9. Toxicology. The basic science of poisons.
10. Fourth Ed. ââ‚‌“ Pergamon Press, New York.
11. Bergmeyer, H.V., Horder K, 1980. IFCC methods
12. for measurement of catalytic concentrations of
13. enzyms. Clin Chim Acta., 105: 147-172 F.
14. Berlin, M. and K.H. Schaller.1974.European
15. standardized method for the determination of
16. δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratasae activity in
17. blood. Z.Klin.Chem.Biochem., 12, 389-390.
18. Cain, B. W., Pafford E A, 1981. Effects of dietary
19. nickel on survival and grouth of mallard ducks.
20. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 10:737-745.
21. Drasch, G.A., 1987. The urban Pigeon (Columba
22. livia-Forma urbana)- a biomonitor for the lead
23. burden of the Environment.Environmental
24. Monitoring and Assessment. 9, 223-232.
25. Eastin W.C. Jr., and T.J. Oââ‚‌™Shea.1981. Effects of
26. dietary nickel on mallards. J Toxicol Environ
27. Health., 7, (6), 883-92.
28. Elezaj, I.R., Q.I.Selimi, K.Rr.Letaj, 2008. The
29. accumulation of Pb, δ-amino levulinic acid
30. dehydratse, hematocrit and hemoglobin
31. amount in blood of Feral Pigeons (Columba
32. livia) living near lead and zinc smelter
33. ââ‚‌œTrepçaââ‚‌ in Mitrovica-Kosova-Four year
34. study. Proceedings of 14 th International
35. Conference on Heavy Metals in the
36. Environment. November 16-23, 2008, Taipei,
37. Taiwan, 269-272.
38. El-Gazzar, R.M., V. N. Finelli, J. Boiano, and H.G.
39. Petering.1978. Influence of dietary zinc on
40. lead toxicity in rats. Toxicol. Lett., 1, 261-269.
41. Finley, M., M.P. Dieter and L.N. Locke. 1976. δ-
42. Aminolevulinic acid dehy dratase: Inhibition
43. in ducks dosed with lead shot. Environ . Res.
44. , 243-249.
45. Frieberg, L., M. Piscator, G. Nordberg, and T.
46. Kjellstrom.1974. Cadmium in the
47. environment, 2nd edn. Clevevlend, Ohio, CRC
48. Press.
49. Ho W., and Furst A. 1973. Nickel excretion by rats
50. following a single treatment. Proc. West.
51. Pharmacol. Soc. 16: 245-248.
52. Hutton, M. 1979. An experimental survey of the
53. impact of heavy metals on selected species of
54. birds from contaminated environment. PhD
55. thesis, University of London.
56. Hutton, M., G.T. Goodman, 1980: Metal
57. contamination of feral pigeons (Columba livia)
58. from the London area: Part 1-Tissue
59. accumulation of Lead, Cadmium and Zinc.
60. Environmental Polllution (Series A)., 40,207-
62. Kalahasthi R.B., H.R. Rajmohan and K. B. Rajan.
63. Assesment of functional integrity of
64. liver among workers exposed to soluble nickel
65. compounds during nickel planting. Indian
66. Journal of Occupational and Environmental
67. Medicine. 10, (2), 78-81.
68. Kampen, E.J., and G.W. Zijlstra.1961.
69. Standardization of hemoglobinometry II. The
70. hemoglobinecyanide method. Clin.Chim.Acta.,
71. ,538-544.
72. Korenekova ,B., M.Skalicka, I. Kozarova, J.Nagy,
73. D.Mate and P.Nad. 2008. Comparison of
74. cadmium, lead and nickel accumulation in
75. liver, breast and leg muscles of pheasants.
76. Slovak J. Anim.Sci., 41, (4), 184-186.
77. Oââ‚‌™Dell, G. D., Miller W J, Moore S L, King W A,
78. Ellers J C, Jurecek H. 1971. Effect of dietary
79. nickel level on excretion and nickel content of
80. tissues in male claves. J.Anim.Sci. 32:769-773.
81. Ohi, G., H.Seki, K.Akyama, H. Yagyu,1974. The
82. Pigeon, a Sensor of Lead Pollution. Bulletin
83. of Environmental Contamination &
84. Toxicology., 40 (1), 92-98.
85. Outridge,P. M., Schuhammer A M. 1983.
86. Bioaccumulation and toxicity of nickel:
87. Implications for wild mammals and birds.
88. Environ. Rev. 1:172-197.
89. Reinhold, J.G. 1953. Standard methods of clinical
90. chemistry. 1 p 88.
91. Rizaj, M., Beqiri E, McBow, Oââ‚‌™Brein E.Z,
92. Kongoli F, 2008. The mineral base and
93. productive capacities of metals and non-metals
94. of Kosovo. JOM., vol.60 No.8:18-22.
95. Roels, H.A, J.P. Buchet and R.R. Lauwerys, 1974.
96. Inhibition of human δ-amino levulinic acid
97. dehydratase by lead. Int.Arch. Arbeitsmed .
98. , 277-284.
99. Rose, G. A., Parker G H. 1983. Metal contents of
100. body tissues, diet items, and dung of ruffed
101. grouese near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Can
102. J.Zool. 61: 505-511.
103. Schroeder, H. A., Mitchener M, Nason A P. 1974.
104. Life term effects on nickel in rats: Survivel,
105. tumors, interactions with trakes elements and
106. tissue levels. J.Nutr. 104:239-243.
107. Selimi, Q.I., I.R. Elezaj, K.Rr.Letaj, Tissue
108. accumulation of Pb, δ-aminolevulinic acid
109. dehydratse, hematocrit and hemoglobin
110. amount in blood of Feral Pigeons (Columba
111. livia) living in Prishtina the capital of Kosova
112. (Four year study). Proceedings of 14 th
113. International Conference on Heavy Metals in
114. the Environment. November 16-23, 2008,
115. Taipei, Taiwan, pp 257-260.
116. Sivertsen,B., T. Makarova, L. Hagon, and A.A.
117. Baklanov.1992. Air pollution in the border
118. areas of Norway and Russia.- NILU OR:
119. /92:1-14.
120. Spears, J. W., Harvey R W, Samsell L J, 1986.
121. Effects of dietary nickel and protein on
122. growth, nitrogen metabolism and tissue
123. concentrations of nickel , iron, manganese and
124. copper in claves. J. Nutr. 116: 1876-1882.
125. Stawarz, J., M. Zakezevski., A. Marecnik and S.
126. Hraska. Heavy metal concentration in the toad
127. Buffo buffo from a region of Mochovce,
128. Slovakia. Ecologia (Bratislava), 22, 292-297.
129. Stonard,M.D., and M.Webb. 1976. Influence of
130. dietary cadmium on the distribution of the
131. essential metals, copper, zinc and iron in
132. tissues of rats. Chem Biol, Interactions. 15,
133. -363.
134. Tedechi, R.E., Sunderam F W. 1957. Ni poisoning
135. (V), metabolism of Ni under normal conditions
136. and after exposure to nickel carbonyl. AMA
137. Arch. Ind. Health 16: 486.
138. Tietz N.W., C.A. Burtis and P.Duncan, 1983. A
139. reference method for measurement of alkaline
140. phosphatase. Clin.Cem. 29, 5, 302-304.
141. Whanger, P. D., 1973. Effects of dietary nickel on
142. enzyme activities and mineral contents in
143. rats. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 25:323-