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PRINT: ISSN 2221-1896
ONLINE : ISSN 2223-0343
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A
study on wool arsenic concentration and some blood parameters in sheep
flocks grazing around tailing dams of gold mines in Takab, Iran
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Rezazadeh
F.1*, Jafari R.1, Sheikhzadeh F.2 and
Paktinat S.1
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1Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Tabriz,
Tabriz-
Iran
2Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural
Sciences, University of Tabriz,
Tabriz-
Iran
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Abstract |
Arsenic is an environmental
toxicant with a worldwide distribution that causes neuropathy, skin and
vascular lesions and leads to cancer in chronic exposure. While arsenic
concentration is extremely high in drinking water due to its high level
in the earth’s crust in some areas, major causes of arsenic
contamination are mining and smelting industries. The aim of this study
was to determine the amount of arsenic and some blood parameters
including total protein, AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) and ALT (Alanine
Aminotransferase) activity in sheep flocks grazing around two neighbour
smelting centres of gold mines and their tailing dams located in Takab,
West Azerbaijan province, Iran. The samples of wool and blood were
collected randomly from 54 (46 female and 8 male) sheep in 4 villages
surrounding the area. Results showed that arsenic concentration in the
wool taken from exposed animals in this area was apparently higher than
normal range (Mean values are more than 40 mg/kg comparing to the normal
amount that is 5-10 mg/kg). The mean values measured for AST activity in
the present study indicated the potential liver damage caused by chronic
arsenic poisoning. However, there were no significant changes in ALT
activity and total protein. Further large scale studies are suggested to
confirm chronic arsenic toxicosis in sheep and other domestic animals.
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Keywords:
arsenic, blood, sheep, gold
mining |
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To cite this article:
Rezazadeh F, R Jafari, F Sheikhzadeh and S Paktinat, 2014.
A study on wool arsenic concentration and some blood
parameters in sheep flocks grazing around tailing dams of gold mines in Takab,
Iran.
Res.
Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 4(5): 233-236. |
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