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.

In this study; the human health risks of whiting meat and roes, which are frequently consumed in Turkey were evaluated in terms of minerals and heavy metals. The potential of human health risks according to consumption of whiting meats and roes were assessed by estimating of Metal Pollution Index (MPI), Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) levels of heavy metals. The Cd, Hg and Pb results found in the roes were lower than the acceptable limits identified by Turkish Codex. The results showed that the investigated fish meat’s Pb levels were higher than the limit values except from in April and May. The highest Cd content was 0.22 mg.kg-1 in whiting meat in December while the lowest Cd content was 0.03 mg.kg-1 in May. The maximum value of metal pollution indices (MPI) was determined as 0.44 for whiting meat and 0.66 for roes in March. The THQ values of whiting meat and roes were lower than 1 for six months. However, the TTHQ values of whiting meat in February and March were higher than 1 indicating health risk for the consumer by consuming whiting meat.

In this study effects of Pb and Pb+NTA mixtures on the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood tissues of Oreochromis niloticus were investigated. The fish were exposed Pb (0.1 mg/L Pb ve 1.0 mg/L Pb) and Pb+NTA ((0.1 mg/L Pb+0.3 mg/L mixtures NTA ve 1.0 mg/L Pb+3.0 mg/L NTA) for 7 and 21 days. ALP activity in the blood tissue was determined by spectrophotometric methods. In both exposure concentrations ALP activity increase with increasing exposure periods. activity in the blood tissues of fish exposed to Pb for 7 and 21 days was lower when compared to those exposed to Pb+NTA: As a result, it is thought that the toxic effect of lead on O. niloticus on biochemical parameters is prevented by NTA.