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Saurov Sett ¹, Debarati Bhattacharjee ¹, Ronita Mookerji ¹, Tasfia Rakib ¹, K. Sarkar ¹, A. K. Mitra ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology and Environmental Studies, St. Xaviers’s College, 30 Park Street, Kolkata-700 016, W.B., IN

Abstract

The result of anthropogenic activity has resulted in the entry of toxic heavy metals into the environment at any stage from mining to final use. During recycling and use it contaminates soil, crops, water, air, dust and food crops. The East Kolkata Wetland has high environmental concentrations of toxic pollutants including heavy metals in the soil because it receives the untreated sewage of Kolkata; different crops and vegetables including maize are grown here in this place. In the present investigation, the plant and animal models selected were maize and rats. The maize collected from the contaminated soil of East Kolkata wetlands was found to contain 12.5μg/mg dry-weight of lead. Cadmium was also tested but it was not present. Sixteen albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I served as control and was fed with normal diet; group II was fed with normal diet mixed with normal maize; group III was given contaminated maize from the East Kolkata wetlands mixed with normal diet and group IV was fed with a combination of 12.5μg/mg of lead chloride and normal diet. After 6 weeks, the rats were anaesthized with chloroform and then dissected. Changes in organ weight, body weight, haemoglobin percentage and lead content in various organs were determined. Short-term lead exposure showed enlargement of the kidney. In the liver, accumulation of fatty acids and lesions present were pronounced. Spleen mass had visibly increased and, in general, white patches or globules were observed. The SGPT count did not show any major changes. The body weight was found to reduce in the groups administered with lead salts and contaminated maize. But the one fed with lead contaminated maize showed partial increase. Analysis of lead in the organ samples showed the expected dose-dependent accumulation of the metal even when fed with a low concentration. There was a decrease in the weight of the liver from 2.5g to 1.9g, and increase in the weight of the spleen from 0.75g to 1g, and of kidney from 0.1g to 0.6g. There was also a notable decrease in the haemoglobin percentage of the third and fourth groups. The rats belonging to the first and second group were fed with normal food and they showed a haemoglobin percentage of 13.8% and 14.4% respectively. The third and fourth groups of rats showed a considerable fall in the haemoglobin percentage of 12.2% and 11.8% respectively.

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