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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/ETERM/55
Assessment of heavy metals in cow’s blood feeding on areas irrigated with wastewater
in district Kohat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Waheed Ullaha, Arshad Mehmood Abbasia, Abdul Nazira, Muhammad Amina, Khalid
Ahmada*
Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad
Campus, Pakistan
Correspondence: khalidahmad@cuiatd.edu.pk

Abstract
Heavy metal contamination is a serious threat around the globe, affecting ecosystems and
human life. The main sources of heavy metals are traffic exhaust, sewage water, batteries shops
and industrial effluents. The current study was carried out to investigate heavy metals
(Cadmium, Copper, Chromium, and Lead) in cow's blood feeding on wastewater-irrigated
areas in District Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Cow blood samples were
collected from five different locations, including Markaz Road (MR), Gul Malik Road (GMR),
Tappi Road (TR), and control group. Cadmium (Cd) concentrations were found in
contaminated areas with mean values of (0.035, 0.0172, 0.026, 0.024 and 0.0018mg/L) in MR,
GMR, PR, TR and control in cow’s blood samples. Copper (Cu) concentrations were detected
in the MR, KR, PR, TR, and control group, with mean values of (0.031, 0.022, 0.027, 0.04, and
0.0018mg/L, respectively). Chromium (Cr) concentration was lower in the control area, with a
mean value of 0.0015 mg/L, whereas the mean concentration was detected (0.0024, 0.019,
0.029, and 0.024) mg/L in MR, GMR, PR, and TR blood samples, respectively. The mean
concentration of Pb contaminated areas such as MR, GMR, PR, TR, and control group (0.042,
0.032, 0.069 and 0.045) and 0.0061 mg/L respectively in cow’s blood samples. Moreover, high
oxidative stress markers such as Malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes Catalase
(CAT) and Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) expression were also found in such area’s samples.
From the results of the present study, it was investigated that high concentration of heavy
metals in contaminated areas as well as change in MDA level and antioxidant enzymes
activates. Long term exposure to these heavy metals may cause serious effects on animal’s
health and transfer to human and create toxicity in living body.
Keywords: Wastewater; Cows blood; Heavy metals; Antioxidants; Oxidants

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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