Lead Levels in Tissues of Local Scavenger Chickens in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

Mineral mining activities with environmental pollution in Nigeria resulted in lead intoxication in humans and livestock. The likelihood of lead contamination of the environment from non-mining sources may exist in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. The study was carried out to evaluate the bioaccumulation of lead in extensively reared local scavenger chickens-LSC (Gallus gallusdomesticus) in Maiduguri. Two hundred samples each of the liver, kidney, intestine, muscle and blood were tested for lead using standard methods in toxicologic evaluation. There were significant (p<0.05) variations in lead levels in the kidney, liver, muscle, intestine and blood of local scavenger chickens. The highest mean lead level (17.0±12.0µg/kg) was observed in the liver, and the lowest leadlevel (4.0±7.0µg/kg) was in the blood. No significant (p>0.05) sex differences existed in the frequency of lead detection. Mean lead level in the liver of males was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of females with the highest and lowest mean lead levels occurring in the liver and kidney of male chickens, respectively. The highest lead level detected was 414 µg/kg; in the kidney of a female LSC. It was therefore concluded that environmental pollution with lead may be detected in LSCthat bioaccumulate lead; with the liver having the highest affinity.