Author(s):

P Senthil Kumar and S Srisai

Abstract: The present study was conducted to quantitatively measure the levels of heavy metals in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) plants and its effects on cattle inhabitating in and around sewage water polluted areas of Tamil Nadu during the year 2015-16. The field investigation was carried out in randomly selected cattle aged three years and above in the study area. Chronic diarrhoea, emaciation, anaemia and allergic dermatitis were some important clinical signs recorded in the cattle of study area. Fresh water hyacinth plant materials spread over sewage water was collected and heavy metals like lead, zinc, cadmium and copper were analysed. Heavy metals like lead (341.0±30.0) and zinc (126.0±12.0) concentrations were recorded higher level compared to permissible levels in plant. Lead concentration was very higher than the other metals. The selected areas were surrounded with many automobiles workshops. As the water hyacinth has the capacity of absorbing the micro and macro minerals, the concentration of heavy metals might be higher in the water hyacinth plants. Toxicity of lead and zinc were confirmed by estimating the level of lead and zinc in the plasma and milk samples collected from the 20 cattle aged three years and above of the study area. The lead and zinc concentrations in plasma were 2.616±0.355mg/L and 0.086 mg/L, respectively which indicated the heavy metal toxicity in cattle. From this study, it can be concluded that the water hyacinth plant grown in sewage water involved in heavy metal toxicity in cattle reared in the study area.

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