IMPACT OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS ON RUMEN AND BLOOD SERUM CONSTITUENTS IN SHEEP

Abstract

Environmental pollution became one of the major problems facing public health as various types of human activities produce large amounts of wastes. Soil, air and water have traditionally been used as sites for disposal of all wastes leading to their contamination. Due to rapid increase in population, Egypt is expanding its agricultural land in spite of limitation of water sources, which require reuse of drainage water for irrigation. Reusing of drainage water without suitable treatment may cause adverse effects on soil, crop, animal, and human health. Polluted drains in Egypt, that used unofficially for irrigation carry a mixture of different discharges including sewage, agriculture and industrial ones, it contains many types of pollutants, the greatest threats arise from heavy metals especially lead and cadmium, as well as different types of pathogens. Despite of these facts this water was used for the irrigation of lands and drinking of animals as in Giza governorate. Though drinking contaminated water and eating contaminated herbage for long period negatively affect animal health performance and the fanners had suffered seriously from this problem, which has caused major economic losses.