Lead Effect on Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Activity of Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) in Drenas

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

Albana Plakiqi Milaimi ¹ , Qerim I. Selimi ² , Kasum Rr.Letaj ³ , Artan Trebicka ⁴

1 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Pristina, 10.000 Pristina, Republic of Kosovo
2 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Pristina, 10.000 Pristina, Republic of Kosovo
3 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Pristina, 10.000 Pristina, Republic of Kosovo
4 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Republic of Albania

Received: 2015-09-15 Accepted : 2018-10-29 Published : 2015-09-15

Keywords: blood, Lead, pigeon, Environment Pollutants, Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase,

Abstract :

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of environmental pollution with heavy metals from ferro-nickel smelter on Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) activity, and to analyze the blood lead level of feral pigeon (Columba livia) in ferro-nickel smelter courtyard in Drenas City, Republic of Kosovo. For this purpose, twenty specimens of feral pigeon (20 birds, males and females), were collected in Drenas city which were living in ferro-nickel smelter courtyard, and 20 specimens in Lubizhdë village as control group (non-contaminated area). ALAD activity in Drenas group was significantly inhibited (P<0.001), compared with ALAD activity of controls. The blood lead level was significantly increased (P=0.015) compared to control group. Correlation between ALAD and blood lead level in Drenas group was negative (r=-0.117; P>0.050) and positive in Lubizhdë group (r=0.452; P> 0.050), but not in significant difference between the input groups. Feral pigeons can play an important role as bioindicators, which can used to monitor the environmental pollution with heavy metals that may originate from Nickel metallurgy.

References:

1. Kollmeier H., Seeman J.W., Müller K.M., Rothe G., Wittig P., Schejbal V.B.,1987. Increased chromium and nickel content in lung tissue and bronchial carcinoma. Am J Ind Med. 11(6), 659-69.
2. Andersen I., Svenes K.B., 1989. Determination of nickel in lung specimens of thirty-nine autopsied nickel workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 61, 289-95.
3. Wang L.K., Perreira N.C., 1979. Handbook and environmental Engineering. Volume 1, Air and Noise Pollution Controll Humana, Clifton NJ.
4. W Clarkson T., 1987. Metal Toxicity in the Central Nervous System. Environ Health Perspec. 75, 59-64.
5. Barbier O., Jacquillet G., Tauc M., Cougnon M., Poujeol Ph., 2005. Effect of Heavy Metals on, and Handling by, the Kidney. Nephron Physiol. 99, 105ââ‚‌“110.
6. Sezgin N., Ozgan H.K., Demir G., Nemlioglu S., Bayat C., 2003. Determination of heavy metal concentrations in street dusts in Istanbul E-5 highway. Environ Int. 29, (7), 979ââ‚‌“985.
7. Elezaj I.R., Selimi I.Q., Letaj K.Rr., Millaku L.B., Sefaja L., 2013. Metal Accumulation, Blood δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Activity and Micronucleated Erythrocytes of Feral pigeons (Columba Livia) Living Near Former Lead-Zinc Smelter ââ‚‌œTrepçaââ‚‌ ââ‚‌“ Kosovo. E3S Web of Conferences DOI: 10.1051/ C Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013.
8. Dieter M.P., Finley M.T., 1979. δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase enzyme activity in blood, brain, and liver of lead-dosed ducks. Environ Res. 19(1), 127ââ‚‌“135.
9. Drasch G.A., 1987. The Urban pigeon (Columba Livia, Forma urbana) ââ‚‌“ A biomonitor for the Lead burden of the environment. Environ Monitor Asses. 9, 223-232.
10. Veliu A., 2007. Direct measurements for groundwater and surface water in the river Drenica, Department of Environment of Ferronikeli. Drenas, Kosovo. Natura Montenegrina Podgorica. 7(2), 535-540.
11. Millic S., 1985. Odredjivanje olova u kervi tehnikom plamene atomske absorpcione spektrofotometrije (ASA). Toksikolosko hemijske analize (Perpic-Majic), Medicinska Knjiga, Beograd-Zagreb. 39 - 43.
12. Berlin A., Schaller K.H., 1974. European standardized method for the determination of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in blood. Z Klin Chem Klin Biochem. 12, 389-390.
13. Elezaj I., Selimi Q., Letaj K., Plakiqi A. Mehmeti S.I. Milaimi A., 2011. Metal Bioaccumulation, Enzymatic Activity, Total Protein and Hematology of Feral Pigeon (Columba Livia), Living in the Courtyard of Ferronickel Smelter in Drenas. J Chem Health Risks. 1(1), 01-06.
14. Henny C.J., Blus L.J., Hoffman D.J., Sileo L., Audet D.J., Snyder M.R., 2000. Field evaluation of lead effects on Canada geese and mallards in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 39(1), 97ââ‚‌“112.
15. Dieter M.P., Finley M.T., 1979. δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase enzyme activity in blood, brain, and liver of lead-dosed ducks. Environ Res. 19(1), 127ââ‚‌“135.
16. Bakalli R., Elezaj I., Mestani N., Demaj A., Isufi S., Marković D., 1990. The laying hen as a monitoring organism of industrial pollution by heavy metals. International Conference on Metals in Soils, Waters, Plants and Animals, Orlando, Florida, 30 April-3 May.
17. Elezaj I., Rozhaja D.A., Bakalli R., Halili F., 1988. Erytthrocyte delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and lead level in the blood of layng hans exposed to heavy metal pollution. The Proceedings of the 1st European Conference on Ecotoxicology, Copenhagen, Denmark. 247-251.
18. Hutton M., Goodman G.T., 1980. Metal Contamination of feral pigeon Columba Livia from the London area: Part 1-Tissue accumulation of lead, cadmium and zinc. Environ Pollut. 22, 207-217.
19. Ohi G., Seki H., Akiyama K. Yagyu H., 1974. The pigeon, a sensor of lead pollution. Bulletin of Environmental contamination & Toxicology. Vol.12, No.1 ©1974 by springer Verlag New York Inc.