Study on the Effect of Lead as an Environmental Pollutant on the Blood Components of Experimental Animals

Abstract

Lead is one of the commonest environmental pollutants that affect human and animal health. The present work aimed at studying the effect of lead, under natural and experimental conditions, on some hematological diagnostic parameters, liver and kidney function tests together with the pathological alterations of some parenchymatous organs.

The present investigation was carried out in two stages:

- The first stage comprises a fieldwork in which 12 New

Zealand rabbits in a private farm at Ain-Shams area were --- investigated for the effect of lead pollution on the blood

picture and serum minerals for 6 weeks. Assessment of different pollutants in the available water for rabbits revealed the presence of lead and higher concentrations of nitrites, sulphates, calcium, and inorganic phosphates. Ration samples showed elevated levels of calcium, inorganic phosphates, magnesium and iron salts in addition to the presence of considerable level of lead. Investigated rabbits had mild decrease in the values of PCV, hemoglobin and RBCs compared with the normal reference values. Blood leukocyte counts (total and differential) behaved a pattern rather similar to the normal values. Serum biochemical parameters showed increased