Heavy metal environmental contamination consequent of anthropogenic factors has become a global concern with cadmium and lead constituting a major public health, livestock and ecological threat. This study, therefore, uses goats (as sentinel animals) raised in 2 different regions based on their mining history (previous and existing) to evaluate exposure to cadmium and lead and their consequent toxicities and pathological changes. A total of 130 goats (composed of 88 goats which constitute the suspected exposure (SE) group and 44 goats, the suspected unexposed (SU) group) were sampled. Blood and tissue samples (liver, kidney and muscles) were analysed for lead and cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer along with the complete blood count analysis. The mean blood lead levels (BLLs) and cadmium levels (BCLs) in the goats from the SE groups were 14.59 and 3.12 µg/dl respectively, which were significantly higher than the SU groups (9.23 and 0.46 µg/dl respectively) A significantly higher frequency of goats in the SE (93.18%) also had an elevated BLLs compared to the SU group (78.57%). The levels of tissue lead and cadmium in both the SE and SU groups were found significant and higher than the FAO/WHO maximum limits. The packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin concentration were found significantly lower, and the platelet count and some leucocyte parameters (total white blood cell, neutrophil, eosinophil, and monocyte count) were found significantly higher in the SE group. The elevated cadmium and lead level in both groups further highlight the ubiquitous spread of cadmium and lead environmental contamination in both study regions and the direct risk of exposure to human and animals in Nigeria. The relative differences in the observed pathological changes in the two study groups also suggest the influence of the environmental heavy metal pollution and exposure levels on health.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) and its human transport with food chain is a major environmental issue worldwide. The research was based on a pot experiment conducted on fifteen durum wheat cultivars, grown on acid soil pH 5.2. The effect of application of two different lime form (lime1=CaO; Calcium oxide and lime2=CaCO3; limestone) and on shoot dry weight and shoot concentrations of cadmium (Cd). Durum wheat cultivars were grown in strongly acid soil pH 5.2 treated with control (lime0), lime1 (CaO3 g kg-1 soil), lime2 (5.36 g CaCO3) and Cd (5 and 10 mg kg-1 soil) and harvested after 62 days of growth under greenhouse conditions. Durum wheat cultivars without lime fertilization caused decrease in shoot growth, in all durum wheat cultivars and at high Cd treatment. On the other hand, application of lime to the soil resulted in an increase in dry matter yield at both Cd5 and Cd10 doses. While average shoot dry matter yield of lime0 conditions of cadmium 10 dose was 47 mg plant-1, this yield increased to 120 mg plant-1 in lime1 application and to 111 mg plant-1 in lime2 application. Shoot Cd concentrations of durum wheat varieties caused a statistically significant decrease with lime1 and lime2 applications, whereas lime0 and lime2 applications of Cd5 dose caused 46% and 30% decrease in average Cd concentrations, respectively. The results indicated that all durum wheat cultivars were more susceptible to both without lime and Cd toxicity as compared to lime treatment. Cadmium toxicity in the shoot was relieved by lime1 and lime2 treatment. The results indicate that lime protects plants from Cd toxicity in durum wheat cultivars.

This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Vitis vinifera L. seed extract (5 ppm and 10 ppm) on gill and liver tissues histopathology of carp (Cyprinus carpio L. 1758) exposed to cadmium chloride (CdCl2=Cd) (20 ppb) acute and subchronic period. A total of 140 fish in 14 groups were used in the experiment. The experiment was designed as in two different periods (acute and chronic) and 7 different dose groups (control, vehicle, V. vinifera seed extract 5 ppm, V. vinifera seed extract 10 ppm, Cd 20 ppb, V. vinifera seed extract 5ppm + Cd 20 ppb and V. vinifera seed extract 10 ppm + Cd 20 ppb). At the end of the experiment, the gill and liver tissues dissected from the fish were fixed, dehydrated, cleared, and paraffin impregnated. Appropriately sized blocks were prepared from the tissues, sections of 5-7 µm thickness were taken and covered by staining with hematoxylin-eosin. Stained preparations were examined under a light microscope and photographed. It was determined that all dose groups in the acute period and control groups were not different histopathological. It was determined that the histopathological damage caused by the cadmium group in the subchronic period and tissue damage were reduced in the dose groups with cadmium added with V. vinifera seed extract. As a result of the study, it was concluded that V. vinifera seed extract could have a therapeutic effect on the gill and liver tissues of carp exposed to cadmium.

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers contain cadmium (Cd) as a contaminant at levels varying from trace amounts to high levels and therefore, can be a major source of Cd to agricultural systems. This study was designed to assess the impact on application of Eppawala rock phosphate (ERP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) as P fertilizers and different soil amendments on P and Cd uptake in maize (Zea mays L.). The field trial was carried out at Field Crop Research and Development Institute at Mahailluppallama, Sri Lanka. A randomized complete block design was employed with three replicates as ERP and TSP separately applied with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and three types of amendments (biochar, compost and dolomite) and the control without adding P fertilizers. Phosphorus content and Cd content of soil, maize roots and seeds were quantified. Results revealed that available soil Cd and total accumulated root and seed Cd amounts were significantly higher in TSP added treatments with and without amendments compared with ERP added soil. Considering soil available P, root and seed P, there was no significant difference observed in different treatments of TSP and ERP added treatments. A similar phenomenon was also observed in growth and yield parameters with both fertilizers added and with the added amendments. There was no colonization of AMF in maize roots in TSP applied soil while 25-60% of colonization was recorded with ERP. Synthetic fertilizer (TSP) must have inhibited the AMF colonization and thereby increasing the Cd content in maize seeds. AMF colonization increased with comparatively low soil available P in ERP added treatments. The results revealed that TSP could be effectively substituted by ERP as a source of P for maize soils. The addition of AMF, compost and biochar further increased the effect.